MEDICAL EXAMINER RULES ALEX PRETTI DEATH A HOMICIDE -1 - dead after Minneapolis shooting involving immigration agents, US Jan 24, 2026

[bearfossils]

OMG. I was just talking to family members about this sculpture this afternoon, and now I learn it was already destroyed by a J6er. Ice sculpture is a popular Minnesota wintertime tradition, especially in St. Paul. All-in-all, this isn't the worst thing in comparison to everything else inflicted upon Minnesotans and I'm not clutching pearls over it, but the actions of each side is symbolic and reflect who they are. My opinion.

BBM

Image of the sculpture at its dedication today:

View attachment 641922

Image after a Jan 6'er came along, bent on destruction outside the State Capitol
View attachment 641926


An ice sculpture calling to "Prosecute ICE" was destroyed outside the Minnesota State Capitol just hours after it was unveiled on Thursday.

The sculpture was installed by members of the veterans organization Common Defense and other community leaders in protest of federal immigration operations in Minnesota. During the unveiling, the groups also called for accountability in the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. ...

However, a few hours later, pardoned Jan. 6 far-right activist Jake Lang posted a video to social media appearing to show himself kicking over several of the letters in the sculpture. Lang later claimed he was being arrested on felony charges, but authorities have not yet confirmed the arrest or charges.

'Prosecute ICE' sculpture destroyed outside State Capitol hours after unveiling

The sculpture was installed by members of a veterans organization and other community leaders in protest of federal immigration operations.

www.kare11.com

‘Prosecute ICE’ sculpture unveiled at MN Capitol

A ‘prosecute ICE’ sculpture that’s more than 20-feet long was unveiled at the Minnesota State Capitol on Thursday, as community members continue to protest the ongoing efforts of Operation Metro Surge following the shooting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

www.fox9.com

“I totally have the right to participate in an insurrection and storm the Capitol building and shouldn’t have any consequences, but how DARE you make an ice sculpture I don’t like!”

Though good for him for being stupid and self-involved enough to immediately post a video of him committing that act. What a prince. I’m sure attention for himself wasn’t on the forefront of his mind at ALL when doing this.

 

[branmuffin]

The Federal Government blatantly lying by making statements that are provably factually untrue is fairly unprecedented, imho. I can't recall where I've seen or heard such things before.

They are saying that things took place which clearly and obviously did not. This is not a "debatable" point. AP did not "brandish" a firearm. AP was not "confronting or interfering".

We all know that governments lie a lot of the time but it is most unprecedented for the government of a "civilised" (by which I mean modern and democratic) country to outright tell its citizens, not to mention the entire planet, to believe its official statements, rather than the factual account presented to their own eyes.

It really makes you wonder just how many statements made by the federal government, really any level of government who have blatantly lied about events before there were cameras. How many people have withered in prison for crimes they didn't commit. How many people have been convicted on fallacies, how many government-initiated deaths have been deemed accidental or assigned to some patsy. Louis Daguerre should be honored as the patron saint of railroaded innocents.

 

[branmuffin]

bbm

New research out Wednesday tracking state government efforts across the country confirms what election experts have said all along: Noncitizen voting occasionally happens but in minuscule numbers, and not in any coordinated way.

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/30/nx-s1-5462836/noncitizen-voting-trump-ceir-review

I think there's more American citizens like Barry Morphew who voted for Trump on Susanne's ballot than there are noncitizens voting. I can see that many ballots for seniors who are either in extended care facilities or living at home have there ballots filled in by their children, regardless of who's on the ballot.

 

[Inthedetails]

“I totally have the right to participate in an insurrection and storm the Capitol building and shouldn’t have any consequences, but how DARE you make an ice sculpture I don’t like!”

Though good for him for being stupid and self-involved enough to immediately post a video of him committing that act. What a prince. I’m sure attention for himself wasn’t on the forefront of his mind at ALL when doing this.

bbm^^

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Anderson Cooper spoke with Pastor Elizabeth Macaulay and an organizer of Singing Resistance about how song truly makes a meaningful difference while cultivating courage and connection within our beautiful community. --"Our love for each other will carry us through."

Saw this today.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7602734942619028750

 

[bearfossils]

bbm^^


View attachment 641927

My apologies for using that reference sarcastically, totally forgetting that the true Prince of the people was from Minnesota himself. He doesn’t deserve being associated with such a dweeb, even in jest.

 

[Summerliz03]

So the DOJ attorney who was caught on a “hot mic” complaining about how terrible things are at the DOJ and asked to be put in contempt of court the other day was fired today.

Federal prosecutor unhappy with Minnesota ICE cases fired after 'this job sucks' comment

A federal prosecutor assigned to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement cases in Minnesota has been fired from U.S. attorney’s office in the state after telling a judge that her

www.abajournal.com

But that led me to read the actual law docket and transcript of what happened in the courtroom and it’s seriously absolutely bonkers. This is seriously insane to see the things that are happening in the justice department. None of this is ok.

The unfathomable Minnesota transcript that must be read, as it tells the reality of America today

"I am not white, as you can see," Julie Le — a government lawyer — told a federal judge on Tuesday. "And my family's at risk as any other people that might get picked up too ..."

www.lawdork.com

 

[Ruminations]

Minneapolis businesses losing millions in sales each week as ICE operation continue​

https://www.startribune.com/ice-economic-impact-minneapolis-small-business-immigrant-owned-revenue-loss-financial/601576602

Paywall for me. But I get the gist and-

When businesses are making less money the state takes in less sales tax revenue. Then, the state is forced to cut services or raise property taxes. Or raise the rate of sales taxes.

Minnesota Sales Tax Rates By City & County 2026

www.salestaxhandbook.com

MOO

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Totally. I mean, if “illegal” immigrants are being aggressively targeted by an extension of the federal government that is happy to murder “actual” citizens in the street, then that’s totally on those immigrants for not joyfully opening their businesses. It’s not like they’re being harassed, demeaned, or threatened excessively by the feds for the crime of being non-white immigrants in a country of immigrants or anything.

“IMO”/“MOO”.

You post makes no sense in response to the the question asked. It dealt with businesses.

 

[branmuffin]

Still a federal offense, and second offense is a felony. Further, it is a felony to remain after a deportation order, even if the person entered legally.

Someone born here, at least if their parent is here legally, is not an immigrant, by definition.

The weird thing is with US immigration is that many of the 'desired' immigrants, the ones the US tries to lure with the Diversity Visa Program aren't really interested in living in the US. Countries like Mexico, India, the Philippines, China and other countries who have higher levels of immigration aren't eligible for the DVP.

The US and Trump are trying to get Germans, Swedes, and all those northern European citizens to emigrate but they are quite comfortable in their own countries where they have universal health care, paid maternity leave and high level child care programs and other social programs. Why would they want to go to the US?

So all these people that are in the US illegally aren't taking jobs away from Americans and they certainly aren't pushing out those creme de la creme of Europeans. What they are doing is keeping the American economy going by working in factories, and in fields, looking after American children, serving your breakfast and cleaning your homes.

It's a strange dichotomy. In Canada, where I live, there's a situation where because of Trump's ignorance regarding the USMCA deal that he signed in his last administration, and his vow of making all vehicles in the US, the Canadian counterparts of car manufacturing are closing down, laying off thousands of people. When that happens a lot of ancillary businesses dry up, too. The restaurants close, the hairdressers and barbers have no clients, family run clothing stores shut down, the accountants and lawyers move to greener pastures, churches lose their congregations, transportation systems reduce their routes, school's close and teachers are out of work. It's the equivalent of when coal mines and steel mills shut down in the US - the work was outsourced to pay cheaper wages and created their own rust belt.

Now, the situation has been turned on its head; a lot of those businesses listed above: the factories, the restaurants, the farms, and the personal care workers are being decimated by your own government so crops are rotting in the fields, restaurants are closing by the thousands, there's no one to look after your kids, fix your roofs, clean your pools and clean up your yards. It's a self inflicted wound.

And to make it worse, the costs associated with becoming an American citizen or even applying for one is incredibly convoluted and Byzantine, and moves at glacial speed sometimes with backlogs of 20 years. If you want to make an application to Canada to become a Canadian citizen here's what the application costs for a family of four with 2 kids.

Online Payment

eservices.cic.gc.ca

 

[Ruminations]

“I totally have the right to participate in an insurrection and storm the Capitol building and shouldn’t have any consequences, but how DARE you make an ice sculpture I don’t like!”

Though good for him for being stupid and self-involved enough to immediately post a video of him committing that act. What a prince. I’m sure attention for himself wasn’t on the forefront of his mind at ALL when doing this.

I don't know if I would call him stupid. He already was pardoned for worse.

It would be stupid of him to think he'd face consequences.

Imagine how victims of ICE crimes feel? Anyone who has had a child detained, a loved one deported, their family shot at through the door, who has a friend who can't leave their home and counts on volunteers to do their shopping...or lost their citizen mother, daughter, son, brother, sister, wife, or ex to gunshots in daylight in the neighborhood would get some comfort from that sculpture.

But the pardoned Mr. Untouchable had to kick it.

I feel so bad for Alex's friends, family and coworkers.

MOO

 

[branmuffin]

That is where there is a problem. An underground economy.

Where is the underground economy? An underground economy is one where payments are made under the table, where the workers are unregistered where both the business owner and the worker don't declare taxes, or income. I'm sure there are agreements between business owners and workers who agree to keep everything on the downlow, maybe like families who hire child care workers. But considering the amount of taxes that illegal immigrants paid into the US coffers I would think most of these workers are working for companies who hire them for lower wages but are required to report them. How else are illegal immigrants paying over 650 billion dollars in taxes in 2024? They pay those taxes but can never benefit from things like Social Security. The US issues ITINs (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) for all individuals who are not US citizens who pay taxes. That can be someone like me, who sold a home in the US without being a citizen. I had to file a W7 for capital gains to get an ITIN.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Where is the underground economy? An underground economy is one where payments are made under the table, where the workers are unregistered where both the business owner and the worker don't declare taxes, or income. I'm sure there are agreements between business owners and workers who agree to keep everything on the downlow, maybe like families who hire child care workers. But considering the amount of taxes that illegal immigrants paid into the US coffers I would think most of these workers are working for companies who hire them for lower wages but are required to report them. How else are illegal immigrants paying over 650 billion dollars in taxes in 2024? They pay those taxes but can never benefit from things like Social Security. The US issues ITINs (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) for all individuals who are not US citizens who pay taxes. That can be someone like me, who sold a home in the US without being a citizen. I had to file a W7 for capital gains to get an ITIN.

If it is under the table, they don't pay taxes. That is the point.

 

[Muddy K]

So the DOJ attorney who was caught on a “hot mic” complaining about how terrible things are at the DOJ and asked to be put in contempt of court the other day was fired today.

Federal prosecutor unhappy with Minnesota ICE cases fired after 'this job sucks' comment

A federal prosecutor assigned to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement cases in Minnesota has been fired from U.S. attorney’s office in the state after telling a judge that her

www.abajournal.com

But that led me to read the actual law docket and transcript of what happened in the courtroom and it’s seriously absolutely bonkers. This is seriously insane to see the things that are happening in the justice department. None of this is ok.

The unfathomable Minnesota transcript that must be read, as it tells the reality of America today

"I am not white, as you can see," Julie Le — a government lawyer — told a federal judge on Tuesday. "And my family's at risk as any other people that might get picked up too ..."

www.lawdork.com

Thank you so much @Summerliz03 for providing access to that docket and astonishing transcript.

Court reporters are dispassionate recorders of words spoken, they are not interpretive artists. (I was one once upon a time.)

IMO, the chaos, incoherence and frustration apparent in the transcript present a clear and compelling portrait of the incompetency of our current DOJ. I think the transcript also reveals how difficult things can get when DOJ lawyers have to push an agenda first and uphold the law second.

 

[303gmf]

If it is under the table, they don't pay taxes. That is the point.

I’m a US citizen, when some of my older clients pay me in cash am I the underground economy even though I pay sales taxes when I spend that cash in a store?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I’m a US citizen, when some of my older clients pay me in cash am I the underground economy even though I pay sales taxes when I spend that cash in a store?

Yes.

 

[303gmf]

Yes.

Good for me!!
I’m contributing to the economy and paying taxes just like immigrants

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Good for me!!
I’m contributing to the economy and paying taxes just like immigrants

No, because illegal immigrants don't have SSN's and don't pay taxes.

Please don't confuse people that are here legally, working with SSN's, with people who are working without an SSN and not paying taxes.

 

[georgiajean]

No, because illegal immigrants don't have SSN's and don't pay taxes.

Please don't confuse people that are here legally, working with SSN's, with people who are working without an SSN and not paying taxes.

Important to put sources with statements. Otherwise they are just opinions.

"An estimated 11 million immigrants live in the US without authorization. Contrary to some claims, they pay a considerable amount in taxes. Some estimates suggest undocumented immigrants paid nearly $100 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2022."

"If you are a US citizen, you can use your Social Security number (SSN) to file your income taxes. Immigrants who do not have a valid visa or other proof of legal status are not eligible for an SSN. Instead, these workers can apply through the IRS for an individual taxpayer identification number, or ITIN, to file their taxes. As of January 2021, there were an estimated 5.4 million active ITINs."

"Most people who pay into the tax system also get access to various government programs and tax benefits. However, undocumented immigrants who pay taxes are often not eligible for the same tax benefits as US citizens. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Social Security retirement benefits or health insurance through Medicare (PDF), for example, even though they contribute billions of dollars to the federal payroll taxes that fund these benefits. "

Yes, Undocumented Immigrants Pay Taxes—and Receive Few Tax Benefits

taxpolicycenter.org

 

[Summerliz03]

Undocumented immigrants get a ITIN number to pay taxes. And for those who don’t file annual taxes, they still have payroll deductions taken out of their taxes.

Fact Check: Undocumented immigrants can and do pay taxes

Noncitizens who do not have a social security number can and do use a taxpayer identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to file tax returns, contrary to posts online that suggest undocumented immigrants do not pay taxes.

www.reuters.com

Undocumented immigrants accounted for $96B in tax revenue in 2022. Are you saying that you think that undocumented immigrants who are doing this so called “underground economy” with their cash payments are doing so at a higher amount that $96B? That’s quite an underground economy! But if they are getting paid cash under the table, aren’t they in turn spending that money on rent/housing, food, clothing, etc. so their “underground” money is going back into the economy? I’m very confused by the claim about cash payments.