Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Statement on the Killing of Alex Pretti and Federal Overreach in Minnesota
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2026
CONTACT:
Zindy Marquez
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
zmarquez@clccrul.org
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Statement on the Killing of Alex Pretti and Federal Overreach in Minnesota
CHICAGO, IL -- Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is appalled by the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis over the weekend - the second deadly use of force by federal immigration agents in recent weeks. These incidents are tragically familiar to us here in Chicago.
As Chicagoans, it is impossible to watch what is unfolding in Minnesota without recognizing what we have already experienced in our own communities. Over the past year, federal agents have wreaked havoc and fear in Chicago, and we have every reason to believe they will return in full force. These agents are inadequately trained and pose serious risks to public safety.
In the immediate aftermath of Mr. Pretti’s killing, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz seeking the state’s voluntary surrender of highly sensitive records, including Minnesota’s voter rolls, in exchange for a reduction in federal agent presence. Leveraging federal power and public safety on the release of highly sensitive voter data that the federal government has no right to is coercive, dangerous, and unlawful.
Illinois has already been targeted with this same federal overreach. Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) demanded that Illinois turn over voters’ full names, dates of birth, addresses, driver’s license numbers, and partial Social Security numbers - data that is protected under state and federal law. When Illinois refused to release unredacted information, the DOJ responded by suing the Director of the Illinois Board of Elections in December.
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights alongside our partners challenged this federal overreach by moving to intervene in U.S. v. Matthews to protect voter privacy here in Illinois. The federal government has no authority to access sensitive voter information contained in state voter rolls and attempts to pressure the release of this information under political duress threatens voting rights across the country.
“Using fear and violence to coerce states into surrendering sensitive voter data is unlawful and is a direct threat to our democracy,” said Venu Gupta, Executive Director at Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights. “Weaponizing public safety and the right of citizens to protest must never be used as leverage for political gain.”
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights stands with Minnesota’s residents, state officials, advocates, and the families of Mr. Pretti, Ms. Renee Good, and all whose lives have been taken by federal immigration agents. We will continue to demand accountability from our government and fight to protect the constitutional freedoms of all Americans.
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