26.01.2026 01:41
In response to the increasing tension following the shooting of an individual by ICE teams in Minneapolis, the CEOs of over 60 Minnesota-based companies made a joint statement calling on authorities. The company executives demanded a de-escalation of the rising tensions and the finding of peaceful solutions in the state.
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, over 60 company executives (CEOs) called on authorities in response to rising tensions after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) teams shot a person.
In a joint letter published on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce's website, there was a demand for an immediate reduction of tensions in the state and for a resolution to be found.
The death of another person during the operations was protested in many parts of the country, with thousands taking to the streets even in minus 15-degree cold.
CEOs OF MINNESOTA-BASED COMPANIES SIGNED
CEOs of major Minnesota-based companies such as Target, Best Buy, UnitedHealth, and 3M signed the letter, calling for a reduction of tensions in the state. The letter stated, "We call for an immediate reduction of tensions following yesterday's tragic events and for state, local, and federal authorities to work together to find real solutions." Signatories included 3M CEO William Brown, Best Buy CEO Corie Barry, General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening, Target CEO Michael Fiddelke, and UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley.
WHAT HAPPENED?
During the protests in Minneapolis, ICE teams shot a person while attempting to detain them. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara stated that the deceased was a 37-year-old white American resident of Minneapolis, noting that there was no criminal record and that the weapon was legal.
IDENTITY OF THE VICTIM REVEALED
The American Federation of Government Employees announced that the person who was shot and killed was Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a nurse who served as one of their members. This incident occurred after the killing of 37-year-old U.S. citizen Renee Nicole Macklin Good in her vehicle during ICE's operations targeting immigrants on January 7.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Pretti "attempted to run over ICE officers and crashed his vehicle into them." The incident resonated widely in the public and business community in the state.