Additional Coverage:
- ‘Absolutely shameful’: Business and tech leaders react to the latest fatal ICE shooting (businessinsider.com)
Minneapolis Reels After Second Fatal ICE Shooting This Month, Sparking Outcry from Business and Tech Leaders
Minneapolis is once again at the center of a national firestorm after federal immigration agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti on Saturday. This marks the second fatal shooting involving ICE officers in the city this month, intensifying an already heated debate surrounding immigration enforcement and drawing sharp criticism from across the country, including prominent figures in the business and tech communities.
The incident ignited protests on the streets of Minneapolis and a wave of reactions online. Billionaire CEO Bill Ackman of Pershing Square Capital Management urged a de-escalation of tensions, stating on X, “time to take the temperature down before more lives are lost.”
Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz, have voiced strong disapproval of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) tactics, which oversees ICE, describing them as overly aggressive. The DHS, in turn, has defended its agents, claiming they are being provoked by unruly protesters and a lack of cooperation from city government and local police.
Operation Metro Surge, which began on December 1, has seen over 2,000 ICE agents deployed across Minnesota, ostensibly to target criminal activity among immigrants. Residents in Minneapolis and St.
Paul have been protesting since the federal agents arrived, with demonstrations escalating significantly after the first fatal shooting on January 7. In that earlier incident, ICE agents killed 37-year-old Renee Good as she attempted to drive away.
Here’s a closer look at how leaders in the business and tech world are responding to the latest violence:
Minnesota’s Corporate Heavyweights Speak Out
On Sunday, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce released a letter signed by more than 60 CEOs of major Minnesota-based companies. Among the prominent signatories were Michael Fiddelke (Target), William Brown (3M), Jasmine Jirele (Allianz Life Insurance Company), Brian Sikes (Cargill), Jeff Harmening (General Mills), and Stephen Hemsley (UnitedHealth Group).
The letter called for an “immediate de-escalation of tensions” and urged state, local, and federal officials to “work together to find real solutions.” It emphasized, “In this difficult moment for our community, we call for peace and focused cooperation among local, state, and federal leaders to achieve a swift and durable solution that enables families, businesses, our employees, and communities across Minnesota to resume our work to build a bright and prosperous future.”
Bill Ackman’s Calls for Calm and Criticism
Hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman took to X on Saturday, appealing for calm and lamenting the polarized state of discourse in the United States. He wrote, “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.”
Just two hours later, Ackman shifted his focus, placing blame on Minnesota’s state government. He posted, “It is almost as if the governor of Minnesota called for protesters to intervene in ICE enforcements in an incendiary manner,” tagging Governor Walz. “Inciting the people to rise up against law enforcement is guaranteed to end badly, and now we have seen the tragic consequences.”
Reid Hoffman Amplifies Concerns
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, known for his frequent social media activity, remained relatively quiet over the weekend but reposted comments from others, including one that described ICE as “out of control.”
Hoffman also amplified a post from an X user who criticized “chronically online tech leaders” for their sudden silence. When another X user urged business and tech leaders to use their platforms to oppose the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics, Hoffman responded, “It’s time for all Americans to do so.”
OpenAI’s James Dyett Challenges Industry Values
James Dyett, head of global business at OpenAI, also called on his peers in the tech and business communities to leverage their influence to critique the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
“There is far more outrage from tech leaders over a wealth tax than masked ICE agents terrorizing communities and executing civilians in the streets,” Dyett wrote on X. “Tells you what you need to know about the values of our industry.”
Google DeepMind’s Jeff Dean Calls Incident “Shameful”
Jeff Dean, chief scientist at Google DeepMind, reacted strongly to a circulating video of the shooting on X, describing it as “absolutely shameful.”
He further commented, “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.”
Minneapolis police have confirmed that Pretti, who was filming ICE agents when he was wrestled to the ground, was legally carrying a gun. While Border Patrol officials stated Pretti had threatened them with the weapon, multiple videos of the incident appear to show agents had already disarmed and subdued him when the fatal shots were fired.
Jason Calacanis Points Fingers at Political Leadership
Prominent investor and entrepreneur Jason Calacanis, also known for his role as a host of the “All-In” podcast, placed blame on the country’s political leaders in an X post on Sunday.
He wrote, “Once again, I will remind everyone that our leaders are failing us. 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 that “all of this violence” could be prevented by fining businesses that employ immigrants who are not legally authorized to work in the country.
Linear COO Cristina Cordova Calls It “Murder”
Cristina Cordova, Chief Operating Officer at Linear, a product management software company, unequivocally labeled the incident “indefensible” in a post on X.
She stated, “The victim’s legally owned handgun was removed from the scene, and then ICE agents shot him multiple times. It’s far from law enforcement – it’s just murder.”
Cordova concluded, “Those who defend this don’t care about law or order. It’s about money, power, and protecting an executive branch that’s already been bought and paid for.”
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- ‘Absolutely shameful’: Business and tech leaders react to the latest fatal ICE shooting (businessinsider.com)