Duckworth Demands Trump Administration Remove ICE Investigators from Alex Pretti Shooting Investigation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) now leading the investigation into the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is demanding U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel to immediately remove any Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents from the investigation. Duckworth’s letter follows the news that HSI agents were originally put in charge of the investigation and shamefully sought to investigate Pretti, rather than his murderers. As Trump’s agents continue their pattern of brutality, seen in Illinois, Minneapolis and beyond, Duckworth continues to lead the push to force independent investigations into DHS agents’ excessive and deadly uses of force against Americans.

“Allowing ICE HSI agents—who were reportedly instructed to investigate the homicide victim, Mr. Pretti, and bystanders, for potential crimes, rather than the U.S. Border Patrol agents who fatally shot Mr. Pretti and detained witnesses—to participate in the recently launched FBI investigation will destroy public confidence its credibility and objectivity,” wrote Duckworth.

In her letter, Duckworth expressed her strong concerns over the additional multitude of actions by the Trump Administration that risk jeopardizing the credibility of this investigation. Specifically, she cites FBI’s initial decision to not open an investigation into Pretti’s killing, the reported removal of the Acting Special Agent in the FBI Minneapolis Field Office and the mass resignation of federal prosecutors over the Trump Administration moving to prosecute Renee Good’s widow rather than the DHS agents who shot and killed her.

“The bottom line is that ICE HSI agents lack the experience, expertise and independence to conduct credible use of force investigations involving DHS law enforcement officers and must be removed from the FBI investigation into the killing of Mr. Pretti by Border Patrol agents,” continued Duckworth.

A copy of the letter can be found below and on Senator Duckworth’s website:

Dear Director Patel and Secretary Noem:

I write to request the immediate removal of any U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation into the deadly shooting of Mr. Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents. I also ask that ICE HSI agents transfer all evidence and investigative materials to the FBI before departing the ongoing investigation.

Following the FBI’s initial decision to not open an investigation into the deadly shooting of Mr. Pretti, the reported removal of the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office and the unusual mass resignation of Federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota—who reportedly objected to the Trump administration’s efforts to prevent an investigation into the deadly shooting of Ms. Renee Good by an ICE officer—the American people are reasonably questioning whether FBI agents will be allowed to conduct a thorough, objective and independent investigation into the killing of Mr. Pretti.

Allowing ICE HSI agents—who were reportedly instructed to investigate the homicide victim, Mr. Pretti, and bystanders, for potential crimes, rather than the U.S. Border Patrol agents who fatally shot Mr. Pretti and detained witnesses—to participate in the recently launched FBI investigation will destroy public confidence its credibility and objectivity. If FBI is concerned about resources, the appropriate action would be to request additional support from FBI field offices, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division and the independent U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and DOJ Offices of Inspectors General.

The bottom line is that ICE HSI agents lack the experience, expertise and independence to conduct credible use of force investigations involving DHS law enforcement officers and must be removed from the FBI investigation into the killing of Mr. Pretti by Border Patrol agents.

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