Goldman, Homeland Democrats Demand Records from DHS Following Fatal Shootings of Two U.S. Citizens in Minnesota

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security demanded that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem immediately produce records related to the fatal shootings of two United States citizens by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents in Minnesota earlier this month. The letter also demands that DHS preserve all records associated with the fatal shootings.

The Committee is investigating the January 7, 2026, killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis and the January 24, 2026, killing of VA nurse Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Protection personnel. Both tragedies were widely captured on bystander video. Despite clear footage, DHS and White House officials labeled the victims “domestic terrorists” and have repeatedly failed to provide Congress with substantive information in response to oversight requests.

“In addition to our demand for immediate records production, this letter serves as notice of an ongoing congressional investigation and that you are to preserve, in accordance with all applicable Federal laws, all records relating to the use of deadly force by DHS law enforcement against any U.S. citizen,” the members wrote.

“The Committee intends to closely observe the compliance of the Department—and all its component agencies—with these requirements,” the members concluded.

The Committee is demanding all video footage from both shootings, evidence supporting DHS’s claims that the victims were “domestic terrorists,” information on the officers involved and their use of force histories, clarification of reports that medical aid was denied to Ms. Good, and justification for ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations leading the investigation into Mr. Pretti’s death.

The full letter is available here or below: 

Dear Secretary Noem:

As Members of the Committee on Homeland Security with jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), we are investigating the deaths of two United States citizens who were shot and killed by DHS law enforcement this month in Minnesota and the Trump administration’s response to these killings.

On January 7, 2026, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother and U.S. citizen during what DHS says was an immigration enforcement operation. Fewer than three weeks later, a Border Patrol agent and a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer in Minneapolis fired their weapons at Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and ICU nurse for a local VA hospital, who died from gunshot wounds. Bystanders captured both shootings on video, yet DHS and the White House repeatedly issued false or misleading statements about the incidents and labeled the shooting victims “domestic terrorist[s].”

As part of our investigation, this Committee previously requested information related to the shooting of Ms. Good, including the following: body-worn camera footage or other video from the scene, any evidence underlying the conclusion that Ms. Good was a “domestic terrorist,” information on the injuries sustained by the ICE officer who shot Ms. Good, and additional information on the shooting. DHS ignored Congress yet confirmed a leaked cell-phone video filmed by the officer who shot Ms. Good.

The Committee expanded its investigation shortly after a Border Patrol agent and CBP officer discharged their weapons and killed Mr. Pretti, and we requested information to aid in our oversight, including the following: any video of the incident, the employment status of the Shooter and complaints against or use of force incidents by him in the past, and additional information relating to the deployment of CBP and use of force that day. Rather than respond to our inquiries, DHS responded with answers to questions apparently crafted by the Department itself—not the Committee’s inquiries.

Preliminary Demand for Records

We demand that you immediately turn over to the Committee the following information, which we previously requested and which is necessary for the first phase of our investigation:

Renee Good

1. All video footage, including any body-worn camera footage and video footage filmed on a mobile phone by the ICE officer who shot Renee Good, from the scene where a ICE officer shot Renee Good.

2. If there is no body-worn camera footage, an explanation of why such footage was not recorded.

3. Evidence, if any, relied upon by DHS for the conclusion that Renee Good was a

“domestic terrorist.”

4. Information on the current employment status and years of service of the ICE officer who shot Renee Good.

5. Information on whether the ICE officer who shot Renee Good has been the subject of

complaints or significant use of force incidents in the past.

6. Evidence of injuries, if any, to the ICE officer who shot Renee Good.

7. Reasons for ICE’s deployment to the specific scene where Renee Good was shot.

8. Information verifying or debunking reports that a medical professional on the scene when Renee Good was shot offered to assist in her care and was denied by DHS law Enforcement.

Alex Pretti

9. All video footage, including any body-worn camera footage, from the scene where a

Border Patrol agent and CBP officer fired weapons at Alex Pretti, ultimately killing him.

10. If there is no body-worn camera footage, an explanation of why such footage was not recorded.

11. Evidence, if any, relied upon by DHS for the conclusion that Alex Pretti was a “domestic terrorist.”

12. Information on the current employment status and years of service of the Border Patrol agent and CBP officer who fired weapons at Alex Pretti, ultimately killing him.

13. Information on whether either the Border Patrol agent or CBP officer who shot Alex Pretti has been the subject of complaints or significant use of force incidents in the past.

14. Reasons for CBP’s deployment to the specific scene where Alex Pretti was shot.

15. Reasoning for the investigation into Alex Pretti’s death being handled by ICE’s

Homeland Security Investigations.

Document Preservation Mandate
 

In addition to our demand for immediate records production, this letter serves as notice of an ongoing congressional investigation and that you are to preserve, in accordance with all applicable Federal laws, all records relating to the use of deadly force by DHS law enforcement against any U.S. citizen, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as well as any future incidents in which force is used against a U.S. citizen.

As you are aware, the Federal Records Act (FRA) requires that all departments and agencies in the Executive Branch collect, retain, and preserve records that document “the transaction of public business” or contain “informational value.”11 The Committee writes to remind you and the entire Department of your obligations under the FRA.

Under 44 U.S.C. § 3101, the head of each Federal agency is required to “make and preserve records containing adequate and proper documentation of the organization, functions, policies, decisions, procedures, and essential transactions of the agency.” Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. § 3301(a)(2), these protections extend to all types of information, whether stored physically, digitally, or electronically. As such, this requirement encompasses such items as tweets and all other forms of social media posts as well as press releases, among other records.

Federal officials and employees who violate the FRA are subject to criminal penalties. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2071(b), any agency employee who “willfully and unlawfully” conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, destroys, or attempts any such action against a Federal record, is subject to fine and/or  imprisonment for up to three years. In addition, any Federal office holder convicted of violating the FRA can lose his or her position and can be disqualified from holding future Federal office. Moreover, under 44 U.S.C. § 3106(b), you have a responsibility to notify the Archivist of any actual, impending, or threatened unlawful action against records at your agency.

The Committee intends to closely observe the compliance of the Department—and all its component agencies—with these requirements. As part of the Committee’s oversight, the Committee expects to receive, by February 4, 2026, assurances, in writing, that DHS records, documents, data, and information have not been and will not be destroyed, modified, removed, transferred, or otherwise rendered inaccessible.

Thank you for your attention to these matters. We look forward to your compliance.

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