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Blatter joins calls to shun US World Cup amid criticism of immigration and travel bans

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Monday backed a proposed fan boycott of World Cup matches in the United States because of the conduct of President Donald Trump and his administration at home and abroad.

Blatter was the latest international soccer figure to call into question the suitability of the United States as a host country. He called for the boycott in a post on X that supported Mark Pieth's comments in an interview last week with the Swiss newspaper Der Bund.

RELATED STORY | Police arrest protesters outside Minnesota hotel believed to house ICE agents

Pieth, a Swiss attorney specializing in white-collar crime and an anti-corruption expert, chaired the Independent Governance Committee's oversight of FIFA reform a decade ago. Blatter was president of the world's governing body for soccer from 1998-2015; he resigned amid an investigation into corruption.

In his interview with Der Bund, Pieth said, If we consider everything weve discussed, theres only one piece of advice for fans: Stay away from the USA! Youll see it better on TV anyway. And upon arrival, fans should expect that if they dont please the officials, theyll be put straight on the next flight home. If theyre lucky.

In his X post, Blatter quoted Pieth and added, I think Mark Pieth is right to question this World Cup.

The United States is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11-July 19.

The international soccer community's concerns about the United States stem from Trump's expansionist posture on Greenland, and travel bans and aggressive tactics in dealing with migrants and immigration enforcement protestors in American cities, particularly Minneapolis.

Oke Gttlich, one of the vice presidents of the German soccer federation, told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper in an interview on Friday that the time had come to seriously consider boycotting the World Cup.

RELATED STORY | Federal judge threatens contempt against ICE director over detention case

Travel plans for fans from two of the top soccer countries in Africa were thrown into disarray in December, when the Trump administration announced an expanded ban that would effectively bar people from Senegal and Ivory Coast following their teams unless they already have visas. Trump cited screening and vetting deficiencies as the main reason for the suspensions.

Fans from Iran and Haiti, two other countries that have qualified for the World Cup, will be barred from entering the United States as well; they were included in the first iteration of the travel ban announced by the Trump administration.

DOJ drops bid to arrest Don Lemon, 4 others in Minnesota church protest

The Justice Department has withdrawn its request for five arrest warrants tied to a protest at a Minnesota church during a demonstration against immigration enforcement.

The protest followed the killing of Renee Good, who was shot by a federal officer during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Protesters appeared to be attempting to confront a pastor who is reportedly affiliated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

RELATED STORY | Christian leaders urge protecting worshippers' rights after protesters interrupt service

Three people have already been charged in connection with the protest. The Justice Department had sought additional arrest warrants for others, including journalist Don Lemon. A magistrate judge previously rejected charges against Lemon.

The Justice Department did not say why it withdrew the request for the arrest warrants or whether it still plans to pursue charges.

RELATED STORY | Don Lemon believes DOJ will try to charge him, calls Nicki Minaj 'racist' in exclusive Scripps News interview

In an exclusive interview with Scripps News on Friday, Lemon said he believed the Justice Department would still try to charge him, despite insisting he was at the church in his capacity as a journalist.

I was not a protester, Lemon said. Its very clear about that. If you look at all the evidence, Im not a protester.

DHS investigates 'death cards' ICE agents allegedly left inside detainees' cars in Colorado

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is investigating actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Eagle County, Colorado, following reports that agents left ace of spades playing cards inside the vehicles of people they detained.

The ace of spades playing card has long been associated with racism and death, dating back to the Vietnam War.

The ace of spades card reads ICE Denver Field Office, according to Alex Snchez, president and CEO of the nonprofit Voces Unidas. He said the cards were left inside at least two vehicles last Wednesday.

RELATED STORY | Police arrest protesters outside Minnesota hotel believed to house ICE agents

Voces Unidas is a nonprofit based in the Western Slope. We have physical offices in Frisco, Avon, and Glenwood Springs, and soon in Grand Junction. We have been operating in the 15 counties of the traditional Western Slope since January 2025. We have been operating a 24/7 hotline. It is fully staffed with paid employees, and we are providing services and support for families and individuals who are detained at the Aurora Detention Center. Last week, on Wednesday, we had an uptick in activity in the Eagle-Vail valley, Snchez said.

Snchez said they received several calls from the family members of people who ICE agents detained.

We did independently verify that at least nine individuals were detained that Wednesday by ICE in the Eagle-Vail Valley. There are eight individuals who were detained in what we refer to as fake traffic stops, and one individual who was detained as he was walking to a bus stop, Snchez said. We started to hear from at least two families in two different vehicles, suggesting that they had found this card, and they wanted to know the significance of it."

Snchez said ICE agents decision to leave those cards inside the vehicles of those they detained constitutes psychological harassment.

This is disgusting. This is sickening. This is not law enforcement. This is not dignified public servants doing their job on behalf of the American people as federal law enforcement agents; we absolutely call on our congressional delegation for accountability. We want our Colorado congressional delegation to use their powers as members of Congress to demand accountability from the federal government, Snchez said. Is this a practice of the Denver field office? Is this a policy of the Department of Homeland Security? Is this just rogue agents who happen to have extreme views that probably don't belong in law enforcement?

RELATED STORY | Federal judge threatens contempt against ICE director over detention case

DHS condemned the alleged actions in a statement to the Scripps News Group. They released the following statement:

ICE is investigating this situation but unequivocally condemns this type of action and/or officer conduct. Once notified, ICE supervisors acted swiftly to address the issue. The ICE Office of Professional Responsibility will conduct a thorough investigation and will take appropriate and swift action. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is held to the highest professional standard. As our brave law enforcement arrests and removes dangerous criminal illegal aliens, including murderers, rapists, and gang members from our communities, America can be proud of the professionalism our officers bring the job day-in and day-out.

Sanchez said Voces Unidas has not been contacted by DHS, but they hope to speak with the department about the investigation.

DHS investigates 'death cards' ICE agents reportedly left inside detainees' cars in ColoradoThis article was written by Micah Smith for the Scripps News Group in Denver.

ICE agents to assist Olympic security at Milan-Cortina Winter Games

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will have a security role during the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games, according to information shared with local media by sources at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. The Associated Press independently confirmed the information with two officials at the embassy.

The officials who confirmed ICE participation on Tuesday said that federal ICE agents would support diplomatic security details and would not run any immigration enforcement operations.

During previous Olympics, several federal agencies have supported security for U.S. diplomats, including the investigative component of ICE called Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the officials said. They could not be named because they are not authorized to speak publicly.

RELATED STORY | Police arrest protesters outside Minnesota hotel believed to house ICE agents

HSI has a global footprint, and its common for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide security support at major international events.

The State Departments Diplomatic Security Service does this as well, routinely supporting events like the Olympics. The use of U.S. law enforcement agencies in these contexts isnt unusual. During the 2016 Rio Olympics, the Transportation Security Administration deployed officers to assist with airport screening due to the surge in visitors and the potential threat of attacks.

Citing images of masked ICE agents that have dominated coverage of unrest in Minneapolis, Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said that ICE would not be welcome in his city, which is hosting most ice sports during the Feb. 6-22 Winter Games.

"This is a militia that kills, a militia that enters into the homes of people, signing their own permission slips. It is clear they are not welcome in Milan, without a doubt,'' Sala told RTL Radio 102 before ICE's deployment to the Games was confirmed.

ICE's role had been reported over the weekend by the Italian daily il Fatto Quotidiano, prompting conflicting statements from Italian authorities who did not want to appear to confirm the agency's role.

Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said Saturday he had not received confirmation of ICE's deployment, but added that "I don't see what the problem would be,'' the news agency ANSA reported.

RELATED STORY | Federal judge threatens contempt against ICE director over detention case

The Interior Ministry on Tuesday repeated that the U.S. has not confirmed the makeup of its security detail but insisted that at the moment there are no indications that ICE USA will act as an escort to the American delegation."

U.S. Vice President JD Vance will lead a delegation attending the Feb. 6 opening ceremony. The delegation will also include second lady Usha Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the White House announced earlier this month.

The confirmation of ICE's role in Olympic security comes after RAI state TV aired video Sunday of ICE agents threatening to break the glass on the vehicle of a RAI crew reporting in Minneapolis, where ICE operations have sparked mass demonstrations. In the past three weeks, federal officers in Minneapolis have shot and killed two protesters against deportations and immigration enforcement.

Federal judge dismisses Justice Department lawsuit seeking Oregon's voter rolls

A federal judge in Oregon dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking Oregon's unredacted voter rolls on Monday in another setback to wide-ranging efforts by President Donald Trump's administration to get detailed voter data from states.

In a hearing, U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai said he would dismiss the suit and issue a final written opinion in the coming days. The updated docket for the case showed that Oregon's move to dismiss the case was granted.

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield welcomed the move.

The court dismissed this case because the federal government never met the legal standard to get these records in the first place, he said in an emailed statement. "Oregonians deserve to know that voting laws cant be used as a backdoor to grab their personal information.

The Justice Department declined to comment.

RELATED STORY | Walz rejects Bondi's voter roll demands, says she should focus on Epstein files

Kasubhai scheduled the hearing after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz dated Saturday, the same day federal immigration agents fatally shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, which has seen widespread protests over increased immigration enforcement and the previous killing of Renee Good by an immigration officer.

In her letter, Bondi asked the Democratic governor to support immigration officers and shared three simple steps to help bring back law and order" including by giving the Justice Department the ability to access voter rolls to confirm that Minnesota's voter registration practices comply with federal law.

Bondi also asked for the state's records of its Medicaid and food assistance programs, and for the repeal of sanctuary policies that limit local officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

The Justice Department has been seeking detailed voter data that includes names, dates of birth, residential addresses, drivers license numbers and partial Social Security numbers. Officials in many states have said turning over such information would violate both state and federal privacy laws.

RELATED STORY | Justice Department sues Connecticut and Arizona as part of effort to get voter data from the states

The Justice Department has filed lawsuits against at least 23 states and the District of Columbia as part of its effort to collect such data. Last week a federal judge in Georgia dismissed such a suit after ruling the federal government had sued in the wrong city, and earlier this month a federal judge in California dismissed a suit there after finding the governments request was unprecedented and illegal.

The department has said it needs to access detailed voter data to ensure election officials are following federal election laws. Election officials have disputed that and raised concerns that federal officials are trying to use the sensitive data for other purposes, such as searching for potential noncitizens on the rolls.

In a July letter, the department asked Oregon for an electronic copy of its statewide registration list and details on the steps it has taken to remove ineligible voters, court filings show. It sent another letter in August saying it needed the voter list to assess compliance with federal law, and that the list must include information such as full names, birth dates, drivers license numbers or partial Social Security numbers.

Oregon officials responded in August that the department lacked the authority to request the list and offered to provide the publicly available list, court filings show. The department argued it has the authority to request the data under multiple federal laws and is complying with privacy laws.

Kasubhai called for the Monday hearing in Oregon's lawsuit so that attorneys on both sides could provide additional arguments on how Bondi's letter was relevant in interpreting the basis and purpose of the department's request for voter data.

The department argued it had authority under the Civil Rights Act of 1960 to request voter records, as the law says such records are to be made available to the U.S. Attorney General upon a demand in writing that states the basis and purpose of the request. Yet Kasubhai said the department's August letter did not satisfy the law's requirement for stating a basis and purpose when requesting voter records. He added that he read the congressional record of the time when the law was passed, and found it was unequivocal on the release of records being associated with investigations involving discrimination in elections.

The Justice Departments outreach has raised alarm among some election officials because the agency doesnt have the constitutional authority to run elections. That power is granted to states and Congress. Federal law also protects the sharing of individual data with the federal government.

Federal judge threatens contempt against ICE director over detention case

The chief federal judge in Minnesota says the Trump administration has failed to comply with orders to hold hearings for detained immigrants and ordered the head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to appear before him Friday to explain why he shouldnt be held in contempt.

In an order dated Monday, Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz said Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, must appear personally in court. Schlitz took the administration to task over its handling of bond hearings for immigrants it has detained.

This Court has been extremely patient with respondents, even though respondents decided to send thousands of agents to Minnesota to detain aliens without making any provision for dealing with the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that were sure to result, the judge wrote.

RELATED STORY | Police arrest protesters outside Minnesota hotel believed to house ICE agents

The order comes a day after President Donald Trump ordered border czar Tom Homan to take over his administrations immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the second death this month of a person at the hands of an immigration law enforcement officer.

Messages were sent Tuesday to ICE and a DHS spokesperson seeking a response.

Respondents have continually assured the Court that they recognize their obligation to comply with Court orders, and that they have taken steps to ensure that those orders will be honored going forward," Schlitz continued in the order. "Unfortunately, though, the violations continue.

The judge said he recognizes that ordering the head of a federal agency to appear personally was extraordinary. But the extent of ICEs violation of court orders is likewise extraordinary, and lesser measures have been tried and failed, Schlitz wrote.

Schlitzs order lists the petitioner by first name and last initials: Juan T.R. It says the court granted a petition on Jan. 14 from the person to provide him with a bond hearing within seven days. On Jan. 23, the persons lawyers told the court the petitioner remained detained.

RELATED STORY | Border Patrol commander Bovino and some agents expected to leave Minneapolis

The order says Schlitz will cancel Lyons appearance if the petitioner is released from custody

Border Patrol commander Bovino and some agents expected to leave Minneapolis

A senior Border Patrol commander and some agents are expected to leave Minneapolis as early as Tuesday, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

The departure of Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino, who has been at the center of the Trump administrations aggressive immigration enforcement surge in cities nationwide, comes as President Donald Trump dispatched border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to take charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.

The person familiar with the matter was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the operation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Bovinos departure marks a significant public shift in federal law enforcement posture amid mounting outrage over the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents.

His leadership of highly visible federal crackdowns, including operations that sparked mass demonstrations in Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte and Minneapolis, has drawn fierce criticism from local officials, civil rights advocates and congressional Democrats.

Criticism has increased around Bovino in the last few days after his public defense of the Pretti shooting and disputed claims about the confrontation that led to his death.

Trump and Democratic Gov. Tim Walz spoke in a phone call and later offered comments that were a marked change from the critical statements they have exchanged in the past. Their conversation happened on the same day a federal judge heard arguments in a lawsuit aimed at halting the federal immigration enforcement surge in the state.

We, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength, the president wrote in a social media post.

Walz, in a statement, said the call was productive" and that impartial investigations into the shootings were needed. Trump said his administration was looking for any and all criminals the state has in their custody. Walz said the state Department of Corrections honors federal requests for people in its custody.

It was unclear whether the new tone would lead to changes. Attorneys for the administration, the state and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul appeared Monday before U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez, who is considering whether to grant requests to temporarily halt the immigration operation.

She said the case was a priority, though she issued no immediate ruling.

Lawyers for the state and the Twin Cities argued the situation on the street is so dire it requires the court to halt the federal governments enforcement actions.

If this is not stopped right here, right now, I dont think anybody who is seriously looking at this problem can have much faith in how our republic is going to go in the future, Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Brian Carter said.

The judge questioned the governments motivation behind the crackdown and expressed skepticism about a letter recently sent by Attorney General Pam Bondi to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. The letter asked the state to give the federal government access to voter rolls, to turn over state Medicaid and food assistance records, and to repeal sanctuary policies.

I mean, is there no limit to what the executive can do under the guise of enforcing immigration law? Menendez asked. She noted that the federal requests are the subject of litigation.

Brantley Mayers, a Justice Department attorney, said the government's goal is to enforce federal law. Mayers said one lawful action should not be used to discredit another lawful action.

I dont see how the fact that were also doing additional things that we are allowed to do, that the Constitution has vested us with doing, would in any way negate another piece of the same operation, the same surge, Mayers said.

Menendez questioned where the line was between violating the Constitution and the executive's power to enforce the law. She also asked whether she was being asked to decide between state and federal policies.

That begins to feel very much like I am deciding which policy approach is best, she said.

At one point, while discussing the prospect of federal officers entering residences without a warrant, the judge expressed reluctance to decide issues not yet raised in a lawsuit before her.

I cant be the global keeper of all things here. Like, presumably that will be litigated," she said to the state's attorney.

Menendez made it clear that she was struggling with how to rule because the case is so unusual, and there are few precedents.

"Its because this is important that Im doing everything I can to get it right, she said.

The state of Minnesota and the cities sued the Department of Homeland Security earlier this month, five days after Renee Good was shot by an Immigration and Customs officer. The shooting of Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol officer on Saturday added urgency to the case.

RELATED STORY | Minneapolis man shot by Border Patrol remembered as VA nurse, advocate for immigrants

Border czar to Minnesota

In other developments, Trump said he would send border czar Tom Homan to Minnesota. The president's statement came after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, who has become the public face of the crackdown, answered questions at news conferences over the weekend about Pretti's shooting. Trump posted on social media that Homan will report directly to him.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Homan would be the main point of contact on the ground in Minneapolis during continued operations by federal immigration officers.

In court Monday, an attorney for the administration said about 2,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were on ground, along with at least 1,000 Border Patrol officers.

The lawsuit asks the judge to order a reduction in the number of federal law enforcement officers and agents in Minnesota back to the level before the surge and to limit the scope of the enforcement operation.

Other state implications

The case has implications for other states that have been or could become targets of ramped-up federal immigration enforcement operations. Attorneys general from 19 states plus the District of Columbia, led by California, filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Minnesota.

"If left unchecked, the federal government will no doubt be emboldened to continue its unlawful conduct in Minnesota and to repeat it elsewhere, the attorneys general wrote.

Menendez ruled in a separate case on Jan. 16 that federal officers in Minnesota cannot detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who are not obstructing authorities, including people who follow and observe agents.

An appeals court temporarily suspended that ruling three days before Saturdays shooting. But the plaintiffs in that case, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, asked the appeals court late Saturday for an emergency order lifting the stay in light of Pretti's killing.

The Justice Department argued in a reply filed Sunday that the stay should remain in place, calling the injunction unworkable and overly broad.

In yet another case, a different federal judge, Eric Tostrud, issued an order late Saturday blocking the Trump administration from destroying or altering evidence related to Saturday's shooting. Democratic Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty asked for the order to try to preserve evidence collected by federal officials that state authorities have not yet been able to inspect.

A hearing in that case is scheduled for Monday afternoon in federal court in St. Paul.

RELATED NEWS | Army orders military police to get ready for a possible Minneapolis deployment, AP source says

Hotel where federal agents believed to be was targeted

On Sunday night, protesters targeted a Minneapolis hotel where federal agents were believed to be staying, blocking a major avenue on the edge of the University of Minnesota campus.

A freelance photographer working for The Associated Press saw smashed glass in the hotel lobby, as well as graffiti with obscenities and threats directed at ICE.

A Minneapolis police officer was inside the hotel and tried to provide aid to a federal agent who was injured. More officers from local and state agencies planned to move in to deescalate the situation, and make arrests, Minneapolis police said Monday in a statement.

But as they began to reach the scene and arrested two people, federal agents arrived and deployed chemical munitions, the police statement said. A DHS spokesperson said a statement on the situation would be provided later Monday.

What to know about bigger refunds and this year's deadlines as tax season begins

The filing window for 2025 federal tax returns opened on Monday January 26, starting a day earlier than last year and extending through the deadline of April 15, 2026.

This year will see new deductions available, including for certain tips and overtime pay and up to $6,000 for seniors over 65 who paid taxes on Social Security payments. These deductions will be managed through a new form called Schedule 1-A.

These changes may result in higher tax refunds for certain filers.

For tax year 2025, the standard deduction has also been adjusted:

$31,500 for married couples filing jointly $15,750 for single filers and married individuals filing separately $23,625 for heads of household

This year the IRS is operating with less budget than expected and "a significantly reduced staff," according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

RELATED STORY | USPS clarifies postmark rules that could affect ballot and tax deadlines

Filing early in the tax window may see your refund delivered sooner ย but it may make sense to wait to file until later in tax season if you're expecting more specialized tax documents like a Schedule K-1 or Form 1099.

Most refunds sent digitally to a bank account will be processed within 21 days, the IRS says. Refunds can be tracked online within a few days of online filing.

Individuals who need an extension on their taxes can request a wider window, through October 15, to file their return. The IRS has a guide for different methods to request extension.

White House outlines conditions to scale back federal presence in Minnesota

The White House on Monday laid out conditions it says Minnesota and local leaders should comply with for federal officers to be withdrawn from the state, amid growing scrutiny of the administrations expanded immigration enforcement presence.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Customs and Border Protection officers would no longer be needed if state and local officials agree to a series of cooperation measures.

Leavitt said the administration is demanding that Minnesota and local leaders first turn over all undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions who are currently held in state prisons and jails, as well as undocumented immigrants with active warrants and known criminal histories, to federal authorities for deportation.

RELATED STORY | Trump says he had a 'very good call' with Walz amid rising tensions in Minnesota

She said state and local law enforcement should also turn over all undocumented immigrants arrested by local police.

In addition, Leavitt said local police must assist federal law enforcement in locating, apprehending and detaining undocumented immigrants who are wanted for crimes, particularly violent offenses.

Walz previously addressed a similar request from Attorney General Pam Bondi, saying Minnesota is already doing much of what the federal government is requesting.

RELATED STORY | Government shutdown risk grows as DHS funding stalls after fatal Minnesota shooting

During Mondays White House press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Donald Trump wants officials to let a full investigation play out before drawing conclusions about the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti, who was killed by a federal agent Saturday during ongoing immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.

Her remarks marked a more tempered tone from earlier comments by White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, who on social media called Pretti a would-be assassin, and by Homeland Security officials, who portrayed Pretti as a violent threat.

At least 18 deaths reported after colossal winter storm sweeps across the US

The U.S. workweek opened with yet more snow dumping on the Northeast under the tail end of a colossal winter storm that brought lingering misery to parts of the South, where freezing rain left hundreds of thousands shivering without electricity Monday. Authorities reported at least 18 weather-related deaths.

Deep snow over a foot extending in a 1,300-mile swath from Arkansas to New England halted traffic, canceled flights and triggered wide school closures Monday. Up to two feet (60 centimeters) were forecast in some of the harder-hit places.

There were more than 800,000 power outages in the nation on Monday morning, according to poweroutage.com. Most of them were in the South, where weekend blasts of freezing rain caused tree limbs and power lines to snap, inflicting crippling outages on northern Mississippi and parts of Tennessee.

RELATED STORY | FAA says 7 killed, 1 survived jet crash in snow in Bangor, Maine

Utility officials in New Albany, Mississippi, said some homes and businesses could be without electricity for at least a week. In nearby Oxford, where most residents and University of Mississippi students were without power Monday, Mayor Robyn Tannehill said on social media that so many trees, limbs and power lines had fallen that it looks like a tornado went down every street."

Apparently, the new status symbol in this town is having electricity, said Marshall Ramsey, a University of Mississippi journalism professor whose family was running a generator at their Oxford home Monday to power a space heater and keep phones charged.

A pair of burly, falling tree branches damaged real estate agent Tim Phillips' new garage, broke a window and cut off power to his home in Oxford. He said half of his neighbors had homes or vehicles damaged.

Its just one of those things that you try to prepare for, Phillips said, but this one was just unreal.

The U.S. had more than 6,400 flight delays and cancellations nationwide Monday, according to flight tracker flightaware.com.

More light to moderate snow was forecast in New England through Monday evening.

New York City saw its snowiest day in years, with 11 inches falling on Central Park. Main roads throughout the city were largely clear Monday morning, but pedestrians had to plod through snow on some sidewalks and multiple subway lines with above-ground tracks saw delays.

Bitter cold grips much of the nation

Meanwhile, bitter cold followed in the storm's wake. Many communities across the Midwest, South, and Northeast awakened Monday to subzero weather. The entire Lower 48 states were forecast to have their coldest average low temperature of minus 9.8 F since January 2014.

Record warmth in Florida was the only thing keeping that average from going even colder, said former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Ryan Maue, who calculates national averages based on National Weather Service data.

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From Montana to the Florida Panhandle, the weather service posted cold weather advisories and extreme cold warnings as temperatures in many places dipped to zero and even colder. Wind made conditions even chillier and the overnight cold made roads freeze over anew early Monday in a cruel reprise of the weekend's lousy travel weather.

In the Nashville, Tennessee, area, electricity was back for thousands of homes and businesses Monday while more than 170,000 others awoke bundled up in powerless homes after subfreezing temperatures overnight. Many hotels were sold out overnight to residents escaping dark and frigid homes.

It already was Mississippis worst ice storm since 1994 with its biggest-ever deployment of ice-melting chemicals 200,000 gallons plus salt and sand to treat icy roads, Gov. Tate Reeves said. In Corinth, Mississippi, heavy machinery manufacturer Caterpillar told employees to stay home Monday and Tuesday.

Storm leads to deaths in a number of states

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least five people who died were found outside as temperatures plunged Saturday, though the cause of their deaths remained under investigation. Two men died of hypothermia related to the storm in Caddo Parish in Louisiana, according to the state health department.

In Massachusetts, police said a snowplow backed into a couple walking in a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority parking lot in Norwood on Sunday. A 51-year-old woman was killed and her 47-year-old husband was hospitalized.

Three people died in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, on Sunday after shoveling or removing snow during the recent storm, the county coroners office said. They ranged in age from 60 to 84.

Two teenagers died in sledding accidents, a 17-year-old boy in Arkansas, and a 16-year-old girl in Texas, authorities said.

A 28-year-old teacher was found dead and covered in snow after leaving a bar in Emporia, Kansas, as temperatures dipped below zero, Emporia police said in a news release after using bloodhounds to find her body.

A man employed by a snow plow company died Sunday in Dayton, Ohio, after a plow backed over him while clearing a private lot, local police said.

Three weather-related deaths were announced in Tennessee, authorities said. Further details were not immediately available.

Walz rejects Bondi's voter roll demands, says she should focus on Epstein files

Gov. Tim Walz confirmed he received a letter from Attorney General Pam Bondi outlining requests from the federal government to help bring back law and order to Minnesota.

The federal government has sent thousands of officers to Minnesota in what it describes as a crackdown on illegal immigration. Their presence has sparked protests and multiple shootings involving federal agents. Two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed in separate incidents while monitoring federal officers.

RELATED STORY |ย Minneapolis man shot by Border Patrol remembered as VA nurse, advocate for immigrants

Bondi's letter asks the state to turn over records related to Medicaid and food and nutrition programs so the federal government can investigate fraud. Bondi also said Minnesota must end its sanctuary policies and work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove people from the country who are in state prisons or jails. A third request calls for the state to turn over voter rolls so the federal government can confirm that Minnesota is complying with federal election law.

"I think everybody understands what the last request was, totally unrelated to anything in the voter files," Walz said. "Donald Trump telling everybody that the election was rigged."

Walz called the requests unserious, saying the state is already investigating fraud, turns over undocumented immigrants who commit crimes and routinely works with federal officials on immigration enforcement.

In a blunt response, Walz said Bondi should address other issues in her purview.

I would just give her a pro tip to the attorney general There's 2 million documents in the Epstein files we're still waiting on. Go ahead and work on those.

RELATED STORY | Trump says he had a 'very good call' with Walz amid rising tensions in Minnesota

Bondis letter hasnt just drawn attention in Minnesota. Officials in Oregon have also taken note, and its now been referenced in a lawsuit there where state leaders are trying to block the Department of Justices access to their voter rolls. A hearing on that issue is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

HHS staffers call for halt to ICE, CBP operations after VA nurse's 'execution'

A coalition of current and former Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) employees is calling on Congress to freeze funding for federal immigration enforcement operations after what they describe as the "execution" of a Veterans Affairs nurse who was protesting the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

RELATED STORY | Minneapolis man shot by Border Patrol remembered as VA nurse, advocate for immigrants

In a public letter released Monday, the group Save HHS said its members were deeply shaken by the death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti who was fatally shot on Saturday while being apprehended by federal officers.

The letter accuses the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of creating a growing public health crisis through acts of violence, alleging that DHS agents are "murdering, assaulting, and terrorizing people who call this country home."

The employees urged lawmakers to block this weeks must-pass appropriations bills from funding ICE and CBP unless the agencies:

Immediately halt the invasion of American cities, submit to independent investigations, and adopt new protocols that do not violate the Constitution.

The Senate is expected to vote within days on a package combining funding for DHS, HHS, and other federal agencies. If Congress does not pass the legislation by Jan. 30, many HHS workers could face unpaid furloughs.

RELATED STORY | Government shutdown risk grows as DHS funding stalls after fatal Minnesota shooting

Despite that risk, the letters authors argue ICE and CBP present a greater threat to the health of our nation than the lapse of HHS services, citing widespread fear among immigrant and U.S. citizen communities alike. According to the statement, families are avoiding medical care, skipping school, and going without food out of concern for deportation or assault when immigration authorities are present.

We urge you to act in the best interest of the American people, the letter concludes, noting that it was submitted in our personal capacities, on our personal time, and without the use of government resources, as protected by the First Amendment.

Israel says the remains of the final hostage in Gaza have been recovered

The remains of the final hostage in Gaza have been recovered, Israel's military said Monday, clearing the way for the next phase of the ceasefire that paused the Israel-Hamas war.

The announcement that the remains of Ran Gvili had been found and identified came a day after Israels government said the military was conducting a large-scale operation in a cemetery in northern Gaza to locate them.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it an incredible achievement for Israel and its soldiers, telling Israeli media that I promised we would bring everyone home and we have brought everyone home." He said Gvili, who was killed during the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war, was among the first to be taken into Gaza.

RELATED STORY | Netanyahu signs on to Trumps Gaza peace board as some allies decline

The return of all remaining hostages, living or dead, has been a key part of the Gaza ceasefires first phase, and Gvilis family had urged Israels government not to enter the second phase until his remains were recovered and returned.

Netanyahus office said Sunday that Israel would open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, which Palestinians see as their lifeline to the world, once the search for Gvili was finished. It has been largely shut since May 2024, except for a small period in early 2025.

Israel and Hamas had been under pressure from ceasefire mediators including Washington to move into the second phase of the U.S.-brokered truce, which took effect on Oct. 10.

Israel had repeatedly accused Hamas of dragging its feet in the recovery of the final hostage. Hamas said it had provided all the information it had about Gvilis remains, and accused Israel of obstructing efforts to search for them in areas of Gaza under Israeli military control.

Israels military had said the large-scale operation to locate Gvilis remains was in the area of the Yellow Line that divides the territory.

The Oct. 7, 2023 attack killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Gvili, a 24-year-old police officer known affectionately as Rani, was killed while fighting Hamas militants.

RELATED STORY |ย Baby dies of hypothermia in Gaza as winter conditions worsen

Before Gvilis remains were recovered, 20 living hostages and the remains of 27 others had been returned to Israel since the ceasefire, most recently in early December. Israel in exchange has released the bodies of hundreds Palestinians to Gaza.

The next phase of the 20-point ceasefire plan has called for creating an international stabilization force, forming a technocratic Palestinian government and disarming Hamas.

Palestinians killed in Gaza

Israeli forces on Monday fatally shot a man in Gaza Citys Tuffah neighborhood, according to Shifa Hospital, which received the body. The man was close to an area where the military has launched the search operation for Gvili, the hospital said.

Another man was killed in the eastern side of Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, which received his body. The circumstances of his death were not immediately clear.

More than 480 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire since Oct. 10, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts.

Israel's top court considers petition to open Gaza for international journalists

The Foreign Press Association on Monday asked Israels Supreme Court to allow journalists to enter Gaza freely and independently.

The FPA, which represents dozens of global news organizations, has been fighting for more than two years for independent media access to Gaza. Israel has barred reporters from entering Gaza independently since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, which triggered the war, saying entry could put both journalists and soldiers at risk.

The army has offered journalists brief, occasional visits under strict military supervision.

FPA lawyers told the three judge panel that the restrictions are not justified and that with aid workers moving in and out of Gaza, journalists should be allowed in as well. They also said the tightly controlled embeds with the military are no substitute for independent access. The judges are expected to rule in the coming days.

Trump says he had a 'very good call' with Walz amid rising tensions in Minnesota

Questions are mounting about how the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by a federal immigration agent could affect immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

RELATED STORY | Minneapolis man shot by Border Patrol remembered as VA nurse, advocate for immigrants

President Donald Trump said Monday that he spoke with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

It was a very good call, and we actually seemed to be on a similar wavelength, Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Earlier, Trump said he was sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minnesota. According to the White House, Homan will lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations on the ground.

Trump said Walz was receptive to the move.

RELATED STORY | Government shutdown risk grows as DHS funding stalls after fatal Minnesota shooting

"He was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I! We have had such tremendous SUCCESS in Washington, D.C., Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and virtually every other place that we have touched and, even in Minnesota, Crime is way down, but both Governor Walz and I want to make it better!" Trump said.

Walz, for his part, also described the call as "productive."

"The President agreed that he would talk to his Department of Homeland Security about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, as would ordinarily be the case," the governor's office said. "The President also agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and working with the state in a more coordinated fashion on immigration enforcement regarding violent criminals."

Trumps shifting tone in the wake of Prettis death comes as both Democrats and Republicans call for a thorough investigation.

In a Sunday interview with "

The Wall Street Journal

," Trump said his administration was reviewing everything related to the shooting which was recorded by multiple bystanders and appears to contradict initial federal accounts. He also suggested the possibility of pulling federal agents out of Minnesota.

"At some point we will leave," he said. "We've done, they've done a phenomenal job."

The political fallout from Prettis death is expected to ripple through Washington this week. Democrats are threatening to withdraw support for a previously negotiated deal funding the Department of Homeland Security and roughly 75% of the federal government. Current government funding runs out later this week, raising the prospect of a partial shutdown.

FAA says 7 killed, 1 survived jet crash in snow in Bangor, Maine

The Federal Aviation Administration says seven people were killed and a crew member survived with serious injuries when a private business jet crashed in a snowstorm at Maines Bangor International Airport.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 carrying eight people crashed on takeoff at around 7:45 p.m. Sunday night as New England and much of the country grappled with a massive winter storm. The airport, about 200 miles north of Boston, shut down after the crash. Snowfall was heavy at the time in many other parts of the country, but accumulation had just started in Bangor and other planes had been taking off safely.

The jet was registered to a corporation that shares the same address in Houston, Texas as the personal injury law firm Arnold and Itkin Trial Lawyers, and one of the law firms founding partners is listed as the registered agent for the company that owns the plane.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating. The NTSB said preliminary information shows the plane crashed upon departure and experienced a post-crash fire, but that it would have no further statement until after investigators arrive in a day or two.

RELATED STORY | Ice from winter storm leaves hundreds of thousands of customers without powe

The NTSB said it has no role in the release of information about victims and that such information is handled by local authorities. But airport director Jose Saavedra refused to comment, saying at a news conference Monday that he was awaiting guidance and support from federal partners.

An audio recording of air traffic controllers includes someone saying "Aircraft upside down. We have a passenger aircraft upside down, about 45 seconds after a plane was cleared for takeoff. First responders arrived less than a minute later, Saavedra said.

Bangor International Airport offers direct flights to cities like Orlando, Florida, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, North Carolina, and is located about 200 miles north of Boston. It was closed shortly after the crash and will remain closed until at least noon Wednesday.

The crash happened as New England and much of the country grappled with a massive winter storm. Bangor had undergone steady snowfall Sunday, though planes were landing and departing around the time of the crash, Saavedra said.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Winter weather travel guide: Refunds, rebooking, and survival tips

The National Weather Service in Caribou, Maine, said the airport received nearly 10 inches of snow in total, though the snowfall was just beginning at the time of the crash. About a tenth of an inch of snow fell between midnight and 7 p.m. Sunday, and snowfall was light but steady at the time, the service said.

We have crews on site that respond to weather storms on a regular basis, Saavedra said. This is normal for us to respond to weather events.

Throughout the weekend, the vast storm dumped sleet, freezing rain and snow across much of the eastern half of the U.S., halting much air and road traffic and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in the Southeast.

Commercial air traffic was also heavily disrupted around much of the U.S. Some 12,000 flights were canceled Sunday and nearly 20,000 were delayed, according to the flight tracker flightaware.com. Airports in Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, North Carolina, New York and New Jersey were among those impacted.

The Bombardier Challenger 600 is a wide-bodied business jet configured for nine to 11 passengers. It was launched in 1980 as the first private jet with a walk-about cabin and remains a popular charter option, according to aircharterservice.com.

The airport in Bangor is by far the largest city in Maines northern and eastern reaches. Its longstanding joint use agreement with the Maine Air National Guard means runways are ready rain or shine or snow, an airport website says, under the phrase: A Little Snow Doesnt Scare Us.

Federal agents involved in Minneapolis shooting remain on duty

The officers involved in the shooting of a 37-year-old U.S. citizen in Minneapolis on Saturday remain on the job, according to Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino.

At least one officer is seen on video shooting Alex Pretti during a chaotic altercation amid an immigration enforcement operation. Several other officers are seen striking and trying to restrain Pretti, who was documenting the federal agents actions before the encounter escalated.

RELATED STORY | Videos dispute federal account of fatal shooting of Minneapolis protester

All agents that were involved in that scene are working, not in Minneapolis but in other locations. Thats for their safety," Bovino said on Sunday. "Theres this thing called doxxing. The safety of our employees is very important to us, so were going to keep those employees safe.

Bovino was pressed about the investigation and defended the federal governments account of what happened, even as that narrative appears to be contradicted by videos posted online. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said Pretti came with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation.

However, Bovino would not say whether Pretti actually brandished a weapon. Videos show officers disarming him before he was shot.

RELATED STORY | Witness recounts Minnesota shooting; doctor says man was shot in back and chest

"The investigation is going to cover all those facts, things like how many shots were fired, where were the weapons located," Bovino said. "All those facts are going to come out in the investigation."

Prettis family has said he had a license to carry a concealed weapon.

Local officials have sued the federal government and are calling for a full and transparent investigation. A judge has issued an early ruling prohibiting the federal government from destroying or altering evidence related to the shooting.

Ice from winter storm leaves hundreds of thousands of customers without power across the South

A massive winter storm dumped sleet, freezing rain and snow across much of the U.S. on Sunday, bringing subzero temperatures and paralyzing air and road traffic. Tree branches and power lines snapped under the weight of ice, and hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in the Southeast were left without electricity.

The ice and snowfall were expected to continue into Monday in much of the country, followed by very low temperatures, which could cause dangerous travel and infrastructure impacts to linger for several days, the National Weather Service said.

Heavy snow was forecast from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, while catastrophic ice accumulation threatened from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

It is a unique storm in the sense that it is so widespread, weather service meteorologist Allison Santorelli said in a phone interview. It was affecting areas all the way from New Mexico, Texas, all the way into New England, so were talking like a 2,000-mile spread.

RELATED STORY | More than 10,000 flights canceled as massive winter storm sweeps across US

President Donald Trump has approved emergency declarations for at least a dozen states by Saturday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency pre-positioned commodities, staff and search and rescue teams in numerous states, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state was bracing for the longest cold stretch and highest snow totals it has seen in years. Communities near the Canadian border have already seen record-breaking subzero temperatures, with Watertown registering minus 34 degrees Fahrenheit and Copenhagen minus 49 F, she said.

An Arctic siege has taken over our state, Hochul said. It is brutal, it is bone chilling and it is dangerous.

Effects of the storm

In Corinth, Mississippi, where power outages were widespread, Caterpillar told employees at its remanufacturing site to stay home Monday and Tuesday.

May God have mercy on Corinth, MS! ... The sound of the trees snapping, exploding & falling through the night have been unnerving to say the least, resident Kathy Ragan wrote on Facebook.

In Clarksdale, Mississippi, Sanford Johnsons family still had power Sunday while nearby towns had outages. Enough snow and sleet fell that few motorists were out, he said.

I had to break it to my youngest daughter that the play date she scheduled likely wont happen today. We have no plans on driving, Johnson said.

RELATED STORY | Winter weather travel guide: Refunds, rebooking, and survival tips

On the east side of Nashville, Jami Joe, 41, had power Sunday afternoon but she feared the juice might not last long as ice-heavy limbs from mature oak and pecan trees continued to crash around her house. Its only a matter of time if a limb strikes a power line, she predicted.

In Little Rock, Arkansas, officials say the weight of accumulated snow and sleet likely caused the collapse of an awning onto several houseboats. Six people were rescued and 22 were evacuated, Pulaski County officials said.

Robert Williams, a porter at a residential building in Queens, said the snow plow he was using broke down just as he was beginning to clear the sidewalks early this morning. He and a co-worker have instead had to go out nearly every hour with shovels and salt to clear a path around the building, which takes up the entire block.

No matter the elements, we still have to put on our big boy shoes and come out here and do what we have to do, Williams said.

Storm knocks out power and snarls flights

As of Sunday morning, about 213 million people were under some sort of winter weather warning, Santorelli said. Hundreds of thousands of customers were without power according to poweroutage.us, with Tennessee and Mississippi hit especially hard.

Some 11,500 flights were canceled Sunday and more than 16,000 delayed, according to the flight tracker flightaware.com. Airports in Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, North Carolina, New York and New Jersey were hit especially hard.

Bitter cold makes things worse

Even once the ice and snow stop falling, the danger will continue, Santorelli warned.

Behind the storm its just going to get bitterly cold across basically the entirety of the eastern two-thirds of the nation, east of the Rockies, she said. That means the ice and snow wont melt as fast, which could hinder some efforts to restore power and other infrastructure.

Along the Gulf Coast, temperatures were balmy Sunday, hitting the high 60s and low 70s, but thermometers were expected to drop into the high 20s and low 30s there by Monday morning. The National Weather Service warned of damaging winds and a slight risk of severe storms and possibly even a brief tornado.

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least five people who died were found outside as temperatures plunged Saturday before the snows arrived in earnest, though the cause of their deaths remained under investigation.

He pleaded with New Yorkers to stay inside and off roads: We want every single New Yorker to make it through this storm.

Two men died of hypothermia related to the storm in Caddo Parish in Louisiana, according to the state health department.

Across the affected areas, officials announced that school would be canceled or held remotely Monday.

Recovery could take a while

In Oxford, Mississippi, police on Sunday morning used social media to tell residents to stay home as the danger of being outside was too great. Local utility crews were also pulled from their jobs during the overnight hours.

Due to life-threatening conditions, Oxford Utilities has made the difficult decision to pull our crews off the road for the night, the utility company posted on Facebook early Sunday. Trees are actively snapping and falling around our linemen while they are in the bucket trucks."

Tippah Electric Power in Mississippi said there was catastrophic damage and that it could be weeks instead of days to restore everyone.

The Tennessee Valley Authority provides power to some utilities across the region, and spokesperson Scott Brooks said the bulk power system remains stable but overnight icing had caused power interruptions in north Mississippi, north Alabama, southern middle Tennessee and the Knoxville, Tennessee, area.

Icy roads made travel dangerous in north Georgia, where the Cherokee County Sheriffs office posted on Facebook, You know its bad when Waffle House is closed!!! along with a photo of a shuttered restaurant. Whether the chains restaurants are open known as the Waffle House Index has become an informal way to gauge the severity of weather disasters across the South.

Obamas criticize federal tactics after fatal Minnesota shooting, call for accountability

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama issued a statement condemning the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, calling it a heartbreaking tragedy and urging greater accountability from federal law enforcement.

Pretti was shot and killed on Saturday by a federal officer amid ongoing immigration protests in Minneapolis.

The Obamas criticized the tactics used by immigration agents and called on federal officials to work with state and local leaders to prevent further violence.

RELATED STORY | Videos dispute federal account of fatal shooting of Minneapolis protester

Read their full statement:

The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy. It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault. Federal law enforcement and immigration agents have a tough job. But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety. Thats not what were seeing in Minnesota. In fact, were seeing the opposite. For weeks now, people across the country have been rightly outraged by the spectacle of masked ICE recruits and other federal agents acting with impunity and engaging in tactics that seem designed to intimidate, harass, provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city. These unprecedented tactics which even the former top lawyer of the Department of Homeland Security in the first Trump administration has characterized as embarrassing, lawless and cruel have now resulted in the fatal shootings of two U.S citizens. And yet rather than trying to impose some semblance of discipline and accountability over the agents theyve deployed, the President and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations for the shootings of Mr. Pretti and Renee Good that arent informed by any serious investigation and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence. This has to stop. I would hope that after this most recent tragedy, administration officials will reconsider their approach, and start finding ways to work constructively with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey as well as state and local police to avert more chaos and achieve legitimate law enforcement goals. In the meantime, every American should support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protests in Minneapolis and other parts of the country. They are a timely reminder that ultimately its up to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms, and hold our government accountable.

Videos dispute federal account of fatal shooting of Minneapolis protester

Multiple videos circulating online show various different angles of the fatal shooting of a man by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis on Saturday, contradicting claims made by federal officials.

The man was identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a local nurse who was on hand to film and protest a federal immigration crackdown in the Twin Cities. He was holding a cellphone, apparently filming law enforcement activity, nearly one mile away from where Renee Good was fatally shot by an immigration enforcement agent earlier this month.

RELATED STORY | Minneapolis man shot by Border Patrol remembered as VA nurse, advocate for immigrants

Video footage from one bystander showed Pretti standing in the street recording federal officers with a cell phone. One agent can then be seen approaching another person and pushing them down onto the ground. At that point, Pretti jumps between the agent and the protester and is pepper sprayed in the face. Seconds later, several other officers jump in and attempt to apprehend Pretti and a scuffle ensues. Officers are then seen backing away from him after at least one shot was fired.

WARNING | GRAPHIC CONTENT

Bystander video of fatal shooting during federal immigration enforcement protest

Separate video captured by another bystander showed the same struggle ensue before an officer fired what appears to be four shots on Pretti.

Bystander video captures fatal shooting during immigration enforcement protest

The Department of Homeland Security said that Pretti approached agents with a firearm with two magazines and "violently resisted" when officers attempted to disarm him. Pretti's family has said he owned a handgun and had a permit to carry a concealed firearm. However, the footage only shows Pretti holding what appears to be a cell phone in his hand.

In a sworn declaration filed in federal court, a civilian witness described what they said they observed moments before a federal agent shot and killed Pretti. The witness said they never saw him reach for any weapon.

"An agent approached and asked us to back up, so I moved slowly back onto the sidewalk," the witness stated. "The man stayed in the street, filming as the other observers I mentioned earlier were being forced backward by another ICE agent threatening them with pepper spray. The man went closer to support them as they got threatened, just with his camera out. I didn't see him reach for or hold a gun."

The witness said the situation escalated when an ICE agent shoved one of the observers to the ground and repeatedly sprayed people nearby with pepper spray.

"Then the man tried to help up the woman the ICE agent had shoved to the ground. The ICE agents just kept spraying," the witness states. "More agents came over and grabbed the man who was still trying to help the woman get up."

The witness said multiple agents then forced the man to the ground.

"I didn't see him touch any of them he wasn't even turned toward them. It didn't look like he was trying to resist, just trying to help the woman up," the witness states. "I didn't see him with a gun. They threw him to the ground. Four or five agents had him on the ground and they just started shooting him. They shot him so many times."

RELATED STORY | Protesters demand immigration agents leave Minneapolis after man is shot and killed during crackdown

A nearby resident who is a licensed pediatrician also submitted a sworn declaration, saying he observed much of the encounter from his apartment and went outside after hearing gunshots to try to render medical aid.

"At first, ICE agents wouldn't let me through. They repeatedly asked for my physician's license, which I obviously didn't have," the doctor states. "But none of the ICE agents who were near the victim were performing CPR, and I could tell that the victim was in critical condition."

The doctor said they were eventually allowed to assess Pretti and observed at least three gunshot wounds on his back. After asking agents to turn him onto his back, he said he saw an additional gunshot wound to the upper left chest and another possible gunshot wound to the neck. The doctor said he did not detect a pulse and began CPR until emergency medical crews arrived and took over.

Relatives of Pretti described him as a dedicated intensive care nurse at the Veterans Administration, who was compassionate for others and deeply upset over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in his city.

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