Hollywood Stars Rally Against ICE Tactics Following Nurse's Fatal Shooting
High-profile American celebrities, including Ariana Grande, Olivia Rodrigo, Natalie Portman, and Olivia Wilde, have publicly condemned Donald Trump's immigration crackdown after the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old intensive care nurse in Minneapolis. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for reform of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) practices.
Tragic Death of Alex Jeffrey Pretti
Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse who worked for the US Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot dead by a US Border Patrol officer during demonstrations in Minneapolis. According to his family, Pretti was participating in protests because he was deeply upset by Trump's immigration policies. His death occurred just over two weeks after another incident where mother-of-three Renee Good was killed by an ICE officer.
Trump administration officials, including Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, stated that Pretti was shot after he "approached" Border Patrol officers with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun. However, they did not clarify whether he had brandished the weapon before being killed. Bystander videos that emerged shortly after the shooting show Pretti holding a phone, with no visible weapon in sight.
Celebrity Outpouring on Social Media
In response to the shooting, several celebrities took to social media to express their dismay and call for action. Ariana Grande, 32, reposted a tweet from NYC mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, which read: "As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today. ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE."
Singer Olivia Rodrigo, 22, shared on Instagram: "ICE's actions are unconscionable but we are not powerless. our actions matter. I stand with Minnesota." Chrissy Teigen also amplified a message from US representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who urged Senate Democrats to block ICE funding and activate the National Guard.
ICE Out Pins at Sundance Festival
At the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, celebrities like Natalie Portman and Olivia Wilde wore "ICE OUT" pins to show solidarity with protesters. In an interview with Variety, Portman described the current situation in the US as "quite devastating" and emphasised the need to stop ICE's brutality immediately. She added, "But also there's a beautiful community that Americans are showing right now. They're showing up for each other, protecting each other and fighting for their freedom."
Olivia Wilde expressed her appall at the immigration crackdown, stating: "I'm appalled and sickened. We can't go another day accepting this as our new norm. It's outrageous." She urged support for movements aiming to delegitimise ICE, calling it a "criminal organisation."
Family's Heartbreak and Demand for Truth
Pretti's family has issued a written statement expressing both heartbreak and anger over the administration's portrayal of their son as a "domestic terrorist." They described the claims as "sickening lies" and emphasised that videos show Alex was holding his phone and shielding a woman from pepper spray, not a gun. His father, Michael Pretti, said: "He cared about people deeply and he was very upset with what was happening in Minneapolis and throughout the United States with ICE, as millions of other people are upset."
The family has called for the truth to be revealed, highlighting Pretti's character as a compassionate nurse who was motivated by a desire to protect others. This incident continues to fuel debates over immigration enforcement and civil liberties in the United States.
