Minnesota CEOs, including UnitedHealth and Target, urge 'immediate deescalation' after Alex Pretti killing

• Pretti is the second U.S. citizen killed by federal immigration agents in Minnesota this month, following the earlier shooting death of Renee Nicole Good
• The Trump administration has surged federal law enforcement to Minnesota as part of its immigration crackdown and to pursue allegations of widespread welfare fraud in the state
• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has repeatedly called for federal law enforcement withdrawal, while the Trump administration has resisted and blamed state leadership for not cooperating with enforcement efforts

Summary: Minnesota Business Leaders Call for De-escalation After Fatal Shooting

Over 60 CEOs from major Minnesota-based corporations have issued a joint letter urging "immediate deescalation of tensions" following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen, by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.

Key Companies Involved:

Signatories include top executives from Target (incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke), 3M (Chairman/CEO William Brown), Cargill (Chair/CEO Brian Sikes), and UnitedHealth Group (CEO Stephen Hemsley).

Critical Details:

• Pretti was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on January 25, 2026
• This marks the second U.S. citizen fatally shot by federal authorities in Minnesota this month, following the earlier killing of Renee Nicole Good
• The Trump administration has deployed federal law enforcement to Minnesota as part of an immigration crackdown and to investigate alleged welfare fraud

Current Situation:

A tense standoff has developed between Minnesota state authorities and federal immigration officials, causing "widespread disruption and tragic loss of life," according to the business leaders' letter. Democratic Governor Tim Walz has repeatedly demanded withdrawal of federal law enforcement, while the Trump administration has refused and blamed state leadership for lack of cooperation.

Market Implications:

The business community's intervention signals growing concern about operational disruption and regional instability affecting major corporations headquartered in Minnesota. The letter calls for "peace and focused cooperation" among government levels to enable businesses and communities to resume normal operations and economic development.

This developing situation poses potential risks to business continuity for Minnesota-based Fortune 500 companies.