UNAC/UHCP Statement on the Killing of Registered Nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis

As nurses and health care professionals preparing to take collective action, we are grieving the tragic killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit registered nurse who dedicated his life to serving others at the Minneapolis VA Health Care System. Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026, an incident that has shocked the health care community and the public at large.

In health care, we are united by a simple, sacred principle: protect life and care for the vulnerable. The loss of a fellow nurse under these circumstances compounds the deep moral injury many of us already carry from the daily crises in our hospitals and clinics—overwork, understaffing, and a system that often values bureaucracy over human life.

We stand with Alex’s family, his colleagues, and all who are calling for transparency, accountability, and justice. His death is a stark reminder of the stakes of the systems we work within and the work we must do—both inside our hospitals and beyond—to build a society where health, safety, and human rights are upheld for all.