Washington, DC – U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is demanding immediate federal oversight after what she describes as a disturbing pattern of deadly force involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents.
In a letter dated Monday, Duckworth called on the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice Office of Inspector General to immediately deploy a joint investigative task force to examine officer-involved use-of-force incidents tied to recent immigration enforcement operations.
According to Duckworth, 101 days have passed since her initial request, followed by the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minnesota. The senator alleges that masked and unidentified federal agents engaged in excessive force, failed to preserve evidence, and obstructed state and local investigations.
The letter cites statements from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, which reportedly sought a federal court order to prevent the destruction of evidence after federal personnel allegedly seized cell phones, removed witnesses, and collapsed the crime scene perimeter shortly after the shooting.
Duckworth states that video evidence shows Pretti was unarmed, legally carrying a firearm that was never drawn, and attempting to intervene during an alleged assault on a civilian before federal agents restrained him and opened fire. She alleges agents failed to render medical aid after the shooting.
The senator argues that the actions described represent a departure from standard law enforcement practices and undermine public trust. She further alleges that DOJ officials attempted to influence prosecutors to pursue retaliatory charges against a victim’s family member, contributing to the resignation of multiple federal prosecutors in Minnesota.
Duckworth is urging the inspectors general to conduct timely, independent investigations, assess compliance with federal use-of-force policies, evaluate training and command oversight, and recommend corrective actions, including policy reforms and criminal referrals when warranted.
“The American people deserve transparency and accountability,” Duckworth wrote, adding that independent oversight is necessary to ensure federal agencies operate within the law.
Neither DHS nor DOJ officials publicly responded to the letter as of Monday evening.
