Tech Leaders React to Minneapolis ICE Shooting

A second fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis within weeks has ignited a firestorm of reactions from the nation's business and tech leaders. The incident, which occurred on Saturday morning, has added significant fuel to an already explosive national debate over immigration enforcement tactics.

As tear gas filled the air and protests erupted on the streets, the online response was swift and sharp. From hedge fund billionaires to Silicon Valley executives, prominent voices are now weighing in on the violence that has left another family grieving and a community demanding answers.

The shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old US citizen, represents the second time in a single month that ICE officers have killed a person in Minneapolis. The circumstances surrounding the incident are drawing intense scrutiny and have forced a national conversation about the role of federal agents and the limits of protest.

The sequence of events leading to Pretti's death began with a confrontation. Federal immigration agents were on the scene as part of Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale enforcement action that has seen over 2,000 ICE agents deployed across Minnesota since December 1. The Department of Homeland Security states the operation targets criminal activity among immigrants in the state.

Pretti, who was filming the agents, was wrestled to the ground by officers. Minneapolis police confirmed he was legally carrying a firearm at the time. While Border Patrol officials claimed Pretti threatened them with the weapon, multiple videos of the encounter tell a different story. The footage appears to show that agents had already disarmed and subdued Pretti when he was shot multiple times.

The aftermath has been chaotic. The killing sparked an immediate outcry in Minneapolis and neighboring St. Paul, where residents have been protesting since the federal agents' arrival. These demonstrations grew significantly more intense following the first fatal shooting on January 7, when ICE agents killed Renee Good, 37, as she attempted to drive away in a car.

The shooting has drawn a sharp line between state officials and federal agencies. Minnesota leaders, including Governor Tim Walz, have criticized the Department of Homeland Security, accusing its agents of using overly aggressive tactics. In contrast, the DHS has defended its officers, arguing they are being provoked by unruly protesters and an uncooperative city government and police force.

This official conflict mirrors the deep divisions appearing in the public sphere. The incident has become a flashpoint in the ongoing national conversation about law enforcement, immigration, and civil liberties.

The reactions from the business and tech communities highlight the complexity of the issue, with leaders expressing a range of opinions from calls for calm to outright condemnation of federal actions.

The response from the tech and business world has been vocal and varied. Bill Ackman, the billionaire CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, took to X (formerly Twitter) to call for de-escalation. He lamented the polarized state of American discourse, writing, "There are only two sides to every issue and every incident."

Individuals are 'convicted' of serious crimes in the headlines, by politicians appealing to their base, and ultimately in the minds of the public, or they are exonerated, before all of the facts are in and a detailed investigation has been completed. This is not good for America.

However, Ackman's tone shifted in a subsequent post, where he placed blame on Minnesota's state government. "It is almost as if the governor of Minnesota called for protesters to intervene in ICE enforcements in an incendiary manner," he stated, tagging Governor Walz directly. "Inciting the people to rise up against law enforcement is guaranteed to end badly, and now we have seen the tragic consequences."

Other tech leaders were more direct in their condemnation. Jeff Dean, Google DeepMind's chief scientist, responded to a video of the shooting by calling it "absolutely shameful." He wrote, "Agents of a federal agency unnecessarily escalating, and then executing a defenseless citizen whose offense appears to be using his cellphone camera. Every person, regardless of political affiliation, should be denouncing this."

Reid Hoffman, the billionaire LinkedIn co-founder, amplified the sentiment by reposting comments that called ICE "out of control." When another user called on business leaders to use their platform to stand up to the administration's tactics, Hoffman replied, "It's time for all Americans to do so."

The condemnation extended beyond the initial wave of reactions. Jason Calacanis, a prominent investor and host of the "All-In" podcast, blamed the country's political leadership for the escalating violence. "Once again, I will remind everyone that our leaders are failing us," he posted on Sunday.

True leadership would be to calm this situation down by telling these non-peaceful protesters to stay home while recalling these inadequately-trained agents.

Calacanis later suggested a potential policy solution, arguing that "all of this violence" could be avoided by fining businesses that hire immigrants who are not in the country legally.

The strongest condemnation came from Cristina Cordova, the chief operating officer at the software company Linear. She described the incident as "indefensible," pointing to the specific details of the case. "The victim's legally owned handgun was removed from the scene, and then ICE agents shot him multiple times," she wrote. "It's far from law enforcement—it's just murder."

Cordova's statement concluded with a sharp critique of the motivations behind the defense of the agents' actions. "Those who defend this don't care about law or order," she asserted. "It's about money, power, and protecting an executive branch that's already been bought and paid for."

The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti has become more than a single tragic event; it is a catalyst for a broader national examination of immigration enforcement and the use of force by federal agents. The swift and passionate response from the business and tech communities underscores how deeply these issues resonate across different sectors of society.

As investigations into the shooting proceed, the pressure on both local and federal officials will likely intensify. The voices of leaders like Ackman, Dean, and Cordova reflect a growing demand for transparency and accountability in the wake of violence.

For the residents of Minneapolis, the immediate future remains uncertain. With protests continuing and trust between the community and federal authorities severely strained, the path forward will require careful navigation and a commitment to de-escalation from all sides.