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Pennsylvania's U.S. senators have taken positions that break from their party's typical stances following the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis nurse by federal immigration agents.
Republican Sen. Dave McCormick called for a "full investigation" into the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs medical center who was shot multiple times by immigration agents during a confrontation in Minneapolis on Saturday (January 24).
"We need all the facts," McCormick wrote on social media. "We must enforce our laws in a way that protects the public while maintaining its trust."
While expressing support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, McCormick aligned himself with the National Rifle Association, which has questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's claim that Pretti "brandished" a weapon before being shot.
Video footage analyzed by multiple news organizations appears to contradict federal officials' account. The footage does not show Pretti holding the handgun that was legally holstered in his waistband with a permit to carry.
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, typically supportive of the Trump administration's immigration policies, called for an immediate end to ICE operations in Minneapolis on Monday (January 27).
"The operation in Minneapolis should stand down and immediately end. It has become an ungovernable and dangerous urban theatre for civilians and law enforcement that is incompatible with the American spirit," Fetterman said in a statement.
Fetterman also called on President Trump to fire Secretary Noem, saying she is "betraying DHS's core mission and trashing the president's border security legacy."
Pretti's death marks the second fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis this month, following the killing of Minnesota resident Renee Good. The incidents have sparked protests and deepened tensions between federal agencies and local authorities.
Minnesota officials claim federal agents blocked local law enforcement from the scene after Pretti's shooting, even after obtaining a warrant. The Hennepin County Attorney's office and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension have filed a lawsuit to prevent the destruction of evidence, alleging witnesses were arrested and cell phones potentially containing footage were seized.
The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association has requested a meeting with President Trump to discuss public safety concerns, while gun rights groups including the NRA have joined calls for a thorough investigation.