The state of Minnesota and Hennepin County filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Trump administration, accusing federal authorities of denying local investigators access to critical evidence related to two shootings in January that resulted in the deaths of two American citizens at the hands of immigration enforcement agents.

The legal complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, accuses federal authorities of breaking their promises of cooperation and obstructing state-level investigations.

Two Deaths in Less Than a Week

The incidents occurred in January within a week of each other:

Renee Good, 37, was shot and killed by federal agents on January 17.
Alex Pretti, also 37, died in a similar operation on January 24.

In addition, Venezuelan national Julio César Sosa-Celis sustained a gunshot wound to the leg in a third incident involving agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Allegations of Federal Opacity

In the complaint filed before the court, the state of Minnesota, Hennepin County — where the shootings took place — and the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension alleged that federal agents not only failed to honor their pledges of cooperation, but took "exclusive possession of evidence that had been collected and denied Minnesota investigators access to key information."

The plaintiffs asked the court to order the federal government to provide access to the evidence sought in the cases of Good and Pretti, as well as information pertaining to the Sosa-Celis incident.

Violent Operations and Widespread Fear

The lawsuit sharply criticizes immigration enforcement operations, describing them as "examples" of violent conduct carried out by federal agents in Minnesota. According to the filing, agents engaged in:

Unlawful detentions

Raids and arrests without justification
Dangerous operations in public spaces

These practices, the lawsuit warns, "caused widespread fear among Minnesota residents, both citizens and non-citizens alike."

Accusations of Overreach

The plaintiffs also asked the court to declare the DHS and DOJ practice of refusing to share investigative materials with Minnesota authorities as "arbitrary and capricious" and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

The complaint underscores that the lack of transparency prevents state and local authorities from fulfilling their duty to investigate the deaths of American citizens within their own jurisdiction.

A Pattern of Impunity

The Minnesota case adds to a growing list of complaints against federal immigration agencies over excessive use of force and lack of accountability. Civil rights organizations have repeatedly noted that ICE and other agency operations often function outside the bounds of legal oversight, with fatal consequences for citizens and migrants alike.