Feds are hiding the identities of agents who killed Alex Pretti, but ProPublica claims they found them

Government records have identified the two federal immigration agents who shot Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti. The shooters are listed as Border Patrol agent Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Customs and Border Protection officer Raymundo Gutierrez, 35. The shooting led to Pretti’s death and caused major protests across the city.

Federal agencies, including Customs and Border Protection (CBP), have refused to release the agents’ names. This makes it hard for the public to hold law enforcement accountable for their actions. According to ProPublica, both agents worked on Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement operation that started in December.

The operation sent armed and masked federal agents across Minneapolis. Ochoa joined CBP in 2018, while Gutierrez joined in 2014. Gutierrez works for CBP’s Office of Field Operations on a special response team that handles dangerous operations similar to police SWAT units. Both men are from South Texas.

The shooting raises serious concerns about federal immigration enforcement tactics

Ochoa, who goes by Jesse, has a criminal justice degree from the University of Texas-Pan American. His ex-wife, Angelica Ochoa, said he always wanted to work for Border Patrol. When they separated in 2021, she noted he owned about 25 rifles, pistols, and shotguns.

Pretti worked as an intensive care unit nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. His shooting has made the national debate over President Trump’s immigration crackdown more intense. City sweeps have repeatedly led to violence against citizens and immigrants, often by masked agents. This practice is rare in normal law enforcement and stops the public from knowing who the officer is.

The incident is especially troubling because it happened days after another immigration agent shot and killed Renee Good, 37, a mother of three and protester in Minneapolis. Video footage from days before the shooting has sparked intense debate about the events leading up to the deadly encounter.

Lawmakers from both parties want a full investigation into Pretti’s killing. Republican Sen. John Curtis of Utah wrote on X, “We must have a transparent, independent investigation into the Minnesota shooting, and those responsible, no matter their title, must be held accountable.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees CBP, confirmed the shooting in a notice to some members of Congress on Tuesday. The notice said two agents fired Glock pistols during the January 24 incident but didn’t include their names. DHS said the agents were placed on leave. After pressure, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced Friday it is investigating the shooting. The incident has given Trump supporters new talking points that critics find deeply troubling.