By Karim Hammam
Minneapolis residents placed "I Voted" stickers at the memorial for Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse killed by ICE agents in January during a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation known as Operation Metro Surge.
Memorial becomes election statement
Pretti worked at the Veterans Affairs medical center. His death came days after an immigration official in the city shot and killed another U.S. citizen, Renee Good. The memorial site, covered for months with flowers and signs, now displays the stickers from voters who participated in Tuesday's midterm elections.
Immigration policy drives voter sentiment
Donald Trump's aggressive deportation campaign has been a central issue for voters nationwide. A retired physician who worked with Pretti, identified only as Arne, left his sticker and called Pretti's killing an assassination. He said the election offers a chance for America to reject such policies.
In a predominantly Somali neighborhood, Reverend Shandon Klein of Park Avenue United Methodist Church monitored a polling place to ensure voting access. She described a strong sense of empowerment among voters. No federal law enforcement officers were observed at polling sites despite administration threats to deploy them.
Minnesota became a major target for the Trump administration in late 2025 and early 2026. The ICE operation led to the deaths of Good and Pretti. Community groups that organized rapid response teams against immigration arrests have since shifted their focus to the elections, which include races for Senate, governor, and the House.
