By Gemini News Staff Wednesday, January 28, 2026
BERLIN/MINNEAPOLIS — Germany has officially issued a high-level travel advisory for its citizens in the United States, warning of “violent clashes” and urging extreme vigilance following a series of fatal shootings involving federal immigration agents. The rare warning from a top European ally underscores the growing international concern over Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration’s intensified immigration crackdown that has turned Minneapolis into a flashpoint of civil unrest.
The German Foreign Ministry’s update, released late Tuesday, specifically cites the death of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen, who was shot and killed by federal agents on Saturday. This followed the January 7 killing of Renee Nicole Good, another U.S. citizen, whose death sparked a wave of “economic blackouts” and mass protests across Minnesota.
“Worrying Levels of Violence”: Chancellor Merz Intervenes
The diplomatic ripples reached the highest levels of the German government this week. Speaking from Hamburg, Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed deep unease regarding the tactical conduct of U.S. federal forces.
“I find the news we’ve been getting from the USA in the last few days indeed worrying,” Chancellor Merz stated. “I assume that the American authorities will now thoroughly investigate whether it was necessary to shoot… whether there really was a threat to the officers involved. In any case, I find this level of violence in the USA worrying, to put it mildly.”
Merz’s comments mark a significant moment of tension between Berlin and Washington. As the current German Chancellor, his public questioning of U.S. domestic law enforcement necessity signals that the Minneapolis crisis has transitioned from a local tragedy to a major foreign policy concern.
72 Seconds of Chaos: The Alex Pretti Incident
The catalyst for the travel alert was the Saturday morning shooting of Alex Pretti. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initially claimed an agent acted in self-defense against an “armed agitator,” video evidence and bystander accounts have largely dismantled that narrative.
- The Victim: Alex Pretti was an ICU nurse at a Minneapolis VA hospital and a legally licensed gun owner.
- The Conflict: Pretti was reportedly documenting the scene of an ICE operation when agents confronted a group of observers. Video shows Pretti stepping between a federal agent and a woman who had been pushed to the ground.
- The Shooting: After being pepper-sprayed and pinned to the ground by approximately six agents, Pretti was shot multiple times. Analysis by several news organizations, including the BBC and The New York Times, concluded Pretti was holding a cell phone, not a weapon, in the seconds before he was tackled.
The DHS continues to defend the shooting, with Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino labeling the agents as the “victims” of the encounter. However, a preliminary CBP report shared with Congress notably failed to mention Pretti reaching for a firearm, further complicating the official account.
A City Under Siege: Operation Metro Surge
Minneapolis has been under a “federal surge” for six weeks, with over 3,000 immigration officers dispatched to the state. The results have been a series of high-profile confrontations that have alienated local law enforcement and civil leaders.
Key Incidents in January 2026:
| Date | Event | Outcome |
| Jan 7 | Shooting of Renee Good | 37-year-old mother killed in her car while dropping her child at school. |
| Jan 23 | “Day of Truth & Freedom” | Mass strike and “economic blackout” across Minnesota; 100 clergy arrested. |
| Jan 24 | Shooting of Alex Pretti | VA nurse killed while filming federal agents; sparks nationwide protests. |
| Jan 27 | German Travel Warning | Berlin urges citizens to avoid crowds and remain vigilant in the U.S. |
Demonstrations and the “Economic Blackout”
In response to the killings, the Minneapolis City Council and several major labor unions endorsed a “no work, no school, no shopping” day of protest. Thousands of Minnesotans braved sub-zero temperatures—dipping as low as -10°F—to march through downtown Minneapolis.
Protesters are demanding:
- The immediate withdrawal of federal “Metro Surge” forces from Minnesota.
- Criminal prosecution for the agents involved in the Good and Pretti shootings.
- Abolition of the newly formed “intel collection” forms used to track protesters.
“This is murder in our streets,” said Michelle Naar-Obed of the Twin Ports Rapid Response team. “These agents are acting outside the law, and we will not return to work until they are gone.”
Travel Guidance for Foreign Nationals
The German Foreign Ministry’s advisory remains in effect for all major U.S. metropolitan areas currently seeing ICE surges, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.
“Stay informed via local media. Be vigilant and stay away from crowds where violence could potentially break out,” the advisory reads. “Remain calm and follow the instructions of local security forces.”
The warning also follows reports that Italian journalists from state broadcaster RAI were threatened with “extraction” by ICE agents while filming in Minneapolis, suggesting that foreign media and citizens are increasingly being caught in the crossfire of the crackdown.
Conclusion: A Testing Point for the Transatlantic Alliance
As the Trump administration doubles down on its enforcement rhetoric—with Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller recently asserting that federal agents have “absolute immunity”—the international community is beginning to push back. With Chancellor Merz leading the call for investigation and Berlin warning its citizens of “worrying” violence, the domestic immigration battle in Minneapolis is now a global litmus test for human rights and the rule of law.