At the Calvary Baptist Church in Minneapolis, the doors swung open and shut as locals sought refuge from the biting cold on Sunday. The 140-year-old building sits just blocks away from where Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was shot dead by federal immigration agents during a confrontation on Saturday morning.
In the wake of the shooting, which marked the second time in less than a month that a US citizen has been killed by agents in the city, the church has become what locals describe as a haven from the unrest and uncertainty outside.
There was no service here on Sunday. Instead, volunteers and church staff, such as Ann Hotz, who works at the church's daycare center, handed out coffee, snacks, and hand warmers to those who stopped by. Some were on their way to lay flowers at a nearby memorial for Pretti, while others visited on their way home from protests against the weeks-long federal immigration enforcement operation in the city.
Yesterday, I fell apart... Today I'm here to stand with my community and help our neighbors as they remember Alex and mourn him, Hotz said, visibly emotional.
Dean Caldwell-Tautges, the church administrator, noted, This is what America is now, referring to the recent actions of federal agents in his hometown. Supporting the community felt like the Christian thing to do, he expressed.
Minneapolis is once again at the center of the national immigration debate. Following the tragic shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent earlier this month, protests have erupted throughout the city. Videos depicting the incidents have sparked outrage, further fueling calls for an end to the agency's operations in the area.
President Trump has defended the enforcement tactics while state Governor Tim Walz has demanded the immediate withdrawal of agents from the area, fearing further tragedies. Eyewitness accounts challenge the narrative that Pretti was armed during the encounter, as his family accuses the government of spreading misinformation.
The weekend saw multiple vigils as residents remember and celebrate Pretti's life, while also expressing their frustration and fears for their community's future against the backdrop of a contentious immigration policy. Protesters have made their feelings known with chants demanding an end to federal enforcement in their city, reflecting a community united in grief and resilience.
