‘Worried ICE will deport 700K Indians’: Row over Saikat Chakrabarti calling federal agents ‘murderers’ after Minneapolis shooting

Indian-American political activist Saikat Chakrabarti stirred a row after posting on X about the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man by US Border Patrol agents.

The former chief of staff to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez wrote: “ICE is murdering people. And they will only murder more. RIP Alex Pretti. Abolish ICE.”




In a video message, Chakrabarti said the incident is likely a state-sponsored murder: “Yesterday in Minneapolis, Border Patrol agents murdered Alex Pretti — a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen. They pepper-sprayed him, tackled him to the ground, beat him, and then fired six shots — killing him. Alex was legally carrying, had his ID on him, and was trying to help someone who had been pushed down. But instead of de-escalating, agents chose violence — again. This is state murder. This is what ICE and Border Patrol do. We cannot let this continue.”

Chakrabarti also used the video to call for public action to defund federal agents once and for all: “Emergency protest today at 4 PM — Harry Bridges Plaza, San Francisco. Bring signs, bring rage, bring friends. Call your Democratic senators RIGHT NOW — tell them to vote NO on the DHS funding bill coming up this week. Abolish ICE. Defund Border Patrol. Justice for Alex Pretti. Rest in power, Alex. We won't forget. We won't stop.”

Social media users were not happy with an Indian national calling out to stop a federal agency from doing its job. Some even resorted to racist jibes.

• Is Chakrabarti worried that soon ICE will be deporting the 700K plus illegal alien Indians and dismantling the nationwide grift and cartel network of Indians who are doing the same sort of criminal activities as the Somalis but on a far grander scale.
• Maybe tell people to stop putting themselves in between federal officers and their duties. What do they expect. The deportations is exactly what people voted for. In fact it needs to be at a much quicker pace. millions that need to be sent out.
• I’d need a calculator to pronounce your name
• How does India deport illegals? I support DEI … Deport Every Indian

37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti worked as a nurse at a VA hospital in Minneapolis. His family described him as an outdoors enthusiast who loved his dog and someone deeply committed to helping others. Pretti had participated in protests against immigration enforcement following the killing of Renee Nicole Good earlier this month by similar federal agents.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Pretti was shot after he “approached” Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, but officials did not clarify if the weapon was even taken out or pointed at anyone. Videos captured by bystanders show Pretti holding a phone, but no visible gun. Family members confirmed Pretti owned a handgun and had a permit to carry it, but said he had never carried it during protests.