Boston City Council passes resolution condemning federal killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis

A symbolic vote with national implications

The Boston City Council has approved an emergency resolution condemning the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during federal immigration enforcement activity, describing the deaths as unjustified and incompatible with constitutional governance and due process.

The measure passed unanimously, 11-0, and does not change Boston policy or law enforcement practices. Instead, it positions the council on a high-profile national controversy surrounding the conduct of federal immigration agents and the use of lethal force during operations in civilian areas.

What the resolution says

The resolution calls for independent investigations into the killings and states that civil or criminal penalties should follow if warranted. It also criticizes what it describes as attempts to justify lethal force after the fact through false or inflammatory narratives, and warns that militarized deployments of federal agents into civilian communities can undermine public trust, civil rights, and community stability.

Councilors framed the vote as a statement that no government entity should act outside judicial process. The language of the measure emphasizes due process and rejects the idea that federal agencies can unilaterally determine culpability in the field.

What is known about the two killings in Minneapolis

• Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, 2026, during an immigration enforcement operation, prompting local protests and calls for accountability.

• Alex Pretti, 37, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, was shot and killed in downtown Minneapolis on Jan. 24, 2026, during a federal operation.

In Pretti’s case, federal authorities initially characterized the shooting as self-defense during an “armed struggle,” asserting that he was armed and resisted while agents attempted to disarm him. Multiple videos and witness accounts described Pretti filming the scene with his phone immediately before agents forced him to the ground. Public reporting has also described Pretti as a legal gun owner; questions remain over the timing of when the firearm was removed relative to the shots fired.

The council’s resolution describes the killings as “unjustified, unlawful, and incompatible with constitutional governance and due process.”

Investigation and accountability questions

Federal officials have said reviews are underway, including examination of body-worn camera footage. The scope of any independent review and whether local or state investigators will have full access to evidence remain central points of dispute in Minnesota. In the wake of the shootings, legal representation has been retained by Pretti’s family, and broader scrutiny of enforcement tactics has intensified.

Boston’s posture toward federal immigration enforcement

While largely symbolic, the council’s action reflects Boston’s broader political posture on immigration enforcement and federal-local relationships. The resolution arrives as Massachusetts lawmakers consider proposals that would require clearer identification and documentation by law enforcement in sensitive settings such as courthouses—an issue the council has also taken up as part of a wider debate over transparency, masks, and warrants.

The vote places Boston’s legislative body on record as demanding due process and independent scrutiny when lethal force is used during federal operations, even when the incidents occur outside Massachusetts.