Petition: Media Must Expose DHS Lies After Pretti Shooting

The killing of Alex Pretti by federal Homeland Security agents in Minneapolis—captured on video and contradicted by official statements—reveals a troubling pattern of misinformation from DHS about the use of force in immigration enforcement operations. National outlets, including CNN, have already challenged the administration’s narrative, showing footage that undermines claims that Pretti posed a deadly threat when he was shot.

Too often, government officials spin or deflect after such incidents, burying facts to protect institutions instead of seeking accountability. When a federal agency’s narrative is accepted uncritically, it deepens public mistrust and allows lethal actions to become normalized rather than scrutinized. Accurate, persistent coverage is essential not just to get the story right but to hold power to account.

We call on mainstream media to keep up the pressure on DHS and ICE by continuing to investigate and report discrepancies between official statements and evidence; by demanding transparency in federal enforcement operations; and by refusing to let misleading or false government narratives go unanswered. The public deserves reporting that centers truth over spin, especially when lives are lost and constitutional rights are at stake.