Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says ‘we must draw a line in the sand right now’ following fatal shooting by federal agents in Minnesota

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., emphasized the significant implications for the U.S. following a fatal shooting by immigration officers on Saturday.

A Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis shot and killed Jose Pratti, who was an intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital.

“What we are seeing here is a momentous pivotal moment for the United States, and I cannot underscore enough how precipitous this moment is,” Ocasio-Cortez stated.

Department of Homeland Security officials have labeled Pratti a “domestic terrorist” who allegedly intended to target immigration agents. While he was armed, video evidence from the incident suggests he was not pointing the weapon at officers, and law enforcement confirmed he possessed a valid permit.

This incident marked the third shooting by a federal agent in Minnesota this month alone, and the second resulting in a fatality. Similar shootings have occurred in other cities amidst the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.

Ocasio-Cortez also voiced concerns regarding the administration’s prior suggestions of invoking the Insurrection Act, a move that White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham had commented on.

“If we do not do something now, I do not know what can happen afterwards,” she declared. “We have to contain this chaos. This administration is declaring an openness and a justification for violence against American citizens based on their organizing, based on their political affiliation and they are using the guise of DHS to do it. We have to draw a line in the sand now across sectors, politically, economically, in our media, and more.”

She was among the House Democrats who called on their Senate colleagues to reject an appropriations bill that includes funding for DHS agencies such as ICE and Border Patrol.

If a sufficient number of Democratic senators vote against the bill, it could lead to a government shutdown on Friday. This comes after lawmakers agreed to a short-term funding measure in November to avert a previous shutdown.

On Saturday, Trump attributed the shooting to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, citing their demand for immigration agents to leave the city.

“The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric!” he posted on social media.

This suggests that Trump might consider using the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces to Minnesota. Last week, two infantry battalions from the Army’s 11th Airborne Division, stationed in Alaska and specializing in arctic operations, were placed on notice.