Dean Cain, the actor best known for portraying Superman in the 1990s television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, has publicly defended the federal immigration officers involved in the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The incident, which occurred over the weekend, has sparked significant controversy and debate regarding law enforcement conduct and use of force.
Former Actor Turned ICE Ally Speaks Out
Cain, who is 59 years old, announced last year that he had joined U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to support former President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. In a recent interview with TMZ, he addressed the tragic shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse at a veterans' hospital. While acknowledging he does not know all the specific events leading up to the incident, Cain strongly defended the agents involved.
"I do know that law enforcement — certainly ICE and Border Patrol — have been under a tremendous amount of pressure and attacks," Cain stated. "And they're getting tremendous abuse from what I completely believe is a 100 percent organised opposition very, very — actually pretty sophisticated. I think we're gonna uncover that as it goes on."
Justifying Use of Force in Tense Situations
The former actor suggested that unless one is present during such confrontations, it is difficult to fully understand the decisions made by agents in the moment. He elaborated on potential justifications for the use of force observed in the incident.
"But if someone is committing a felony, which would be obstructing law enforcement, ICE, federal agents from doing their job, impeding and obstructing, that's a felony and perhaps they were just trying to take him down at that point in time," Cain continued. He added that Pretti "certainly wasn't there just being a peaceful protester" and that engaging physically with armed federal law enforcement was "a very bad idea."
Cain further criticised Pretti's positioning during the encounter, noting, "He's standing between law enforcement officers and that woman, that's a mistake in its own right and doing it while armed is a bad, bad idea."
Contradictory Accounts and Video Evidence
TMZ founder and managing editor Harvey Levin challenged Cain's interpretation of events during the interview. Levin argued that open-sourced video footage shows Pretti was attempting to assist two women who had been pushed to the ground by agents, holding a phone and moving towards individuals on the sidewalk before agents began pepper-spraying the group.
"How is this impeding anything?" Levin asked. "I don't understand that."
In response, Cain pointed to unanswered questions about the incident. "How many times had he had communication with law enforcement and officers before that moment? Why was he standing in the middle of the street? There's a lot of questions that need to be answered," he said. "He may have been impeding — he may have become himself a target just for standing in front of ICE vehicles. I don't know."
The video evidence shows Pretti being tackled by at least five agents, dragged to the ground, and struck during a struggle. A gunshot is heard, followed by an agent firing multiple shots while Pretti is on the pavement.
Official Claims and Lack of Evidence
The federal government, including President Trump, has claimed that Pretti approached agents with intent to attack using a pistol, allegedly recovered from the scene. However, authorities have not provided evidence that he ever drew the weapon and have declined to offer a detailed timeline of the confrontation. It is important to note that carrying a licensed handgun with a permit is legal in Minnesota.
Political Rhetoric and Blame Assignment
Cain shifted blame towards local and state officials, specifically criticising Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. He accused them and other city and state officials of not cooperating with ICE and using inflammatory language.
"That rhetoric is emboldening people — and they're telling them to fight them in the streets and do these things — that is the root cause of the problem," Cain asserted.
Levin intervened to clarify that he has never heard Walz or Frey instruct citizens to "fight them in the streets." The conversation then turned to comments from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who claimed Pretti was "brandishing a gun," Immigration Chief Gregory Bovino's statement that he was "trying to massacre officers," and White House Advisor Stephen Miller labelling him a "domestic terrorist."
Cain responded, "I'm not aware of that rhetoric, and it doesn't sound like it's helping tamp down the temperature. But I don't know specifically what they were referring to, or what information Kristi Noem has — obviously, I will be working for her, and I do believe in her very much." He acknowledged that in the clips he watched, he did not see "any brandishing" and emphasised he does not agree with "overblown rhetoric on either side."
From Superman to Law Enforcement Advocate
Dean Cain rose to fame through his iconic role as Superman in the four-season series Lois & Clark, which aired from 1993 to 1997. He later returned to the Superman universe in the CW show Supergirl, portraying Dr. Jeremiah Danvers. In recent years, he has stepped away from acting to focus on law enforcement and political advocacy, becoming a vocal supporter of the Trump administration and its immigration policies.
His defence of the ICE agents in the Alex Pretti shooting underscores his continued alignment with federal law enforcement efforts and his belief in the presence of a sophisticated, organised opposition targeting these agencies.
