Honestly I cried watching the horrible death of an ICU nurse in Minneapolis shot to death by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE). Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37 year old was an Intensive Care Unit Nurse in a Hospital in Minnesota. On Saturday, January 24, 2026 while many were protesting the actions of ICE, he was trying to help another person who was pushed down by ICE but then Mr. Pretti was pulled down by ICE. Almost seven ICE officers were together in this horrible act and then finally shot him to death.
This was a man who treated many patients, comforted many and saved many lives in his profession. He was a compassionate, caring, loving and much appreciated nurse in that Hospital. All of his co-workers, friends, and especially his family are so crushed by his horrible death by people who are supposed to protect citizens in this Country. He was pepper-sprayed and wrestled to the ground and the officers were all holding him down while he was trying to get up. He was holding a cell phone while he had a gun which he never pulled or used. He had legal license to carry a handgun but he never did anything with it while all these ICE offices were fighting him for no good reason.
Alex Pretti was remembered by friends and family as “Best of the Best”. His dear and heartbroken parent’s words, “Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American Veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA Hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact”
It is shocking to listen after this horrible and heartbreaking event, the powerful politicians and officials have made comments and conclusions that Mr. Pretti was a domestic terrorist and his plan was to kill many ICE agents. This was blatant lies to protect them from taking responsibility for the awful killing of a precious nurse.
We all have great love and respect for nurses & doctors everywhere, they are so valuable and priceless for our society. Their care, love, support, comforting words, treating their patients like their own dear ones are incredible and sometimes we don’t get that kind of care from our own family members. I have been admitted few times in Hospitals and the nurses treated me like their own family member. Some called me dear, some called me “love” some called me “baby “some called me “sweetie” while treating me and their loving words were more powerful than the medicine they gave me for healing. I will never forget those nurses for their down to earth nature to treat us and help us to heal fast. The nurses everywhere are wonderful human beings and we all must appreciate and applaud them for taking care of our spouse, dad, mom, son, daughter, friends, cousins, in-laws, grandparents and so on.
It is so alarming to believe few horrible deaths in Minneapolis where the world famous Evangelist Billy Graham preached so many times to love others and the love of Jesus Christ for this world. Minneapolis played a significant role in his ministry, as he established the headquarters for the Billy Graham Evangelism Association there in the 1950s. It is also so alarming that a Nation that claims “IN GOD WE TRUST” is having so much horror, chaos, conflicts, hatred, corruption, fear, inhuman and evil things happening lately.
Can we all take a moment and ask why and why? This has to stop. The Political and Spiritual leaders must do everything to bring peace in US cities.
Yes, the criminals and the law breakers must be caught and deported or punished per laws of the Nation, but the current method is creating so much fear and anger in Cities. More citizens are coming and voicing their anger towards the painful and horrible actions and decisions by the officials. All of the elected officials should take a moment, look into their own hearts and minds and find a better way to enforce laws in the Nation. Causing so much anger, fear and confusion will only lead to more opposition, violence and unnecessary killings of people.
Let us all pray for peace and harmony in our Cities, Neighborhoods and in the Nation. Let us uphold all elected officials so that they will make decisions that will unite the Nation rather than dividing the Nation. Love must replace fear, unity must replace division, care must replace cruelty and compassion must replace conflicts.
This is the United States of America. This is not Russia, China, Iran, Sudan or North Korea. God, have mercy on us. Bring back the beauty, the glory, the love and compassion to this Nation as we sing, “America, America, God sheds His grace on thee”. Oh, God, forgive all of us and give that grace back to this Nation.
Joseph Kurian, Houston
