Dean Cain Defends ICE After Alex Pretti Killing and Blames Democratic Leaders

Dean Cain is once again at the center of controversy, this time for defending federal immigration agents after the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was killed during a federal enforcement operation in January 2026. The comments from Cain have drawn strong reactions online and in the media.

According to Cain, the public does not fully understand what federal agents are dealing with during the recent surge of enforcement activity in Minnesota. Speaking during a recent media appearance, the former Superman actor said law enforcement officers are under intense pressure and constant attack. I do know that law enforcement, certainly ICE and Border Patrol, have been under a tremendous amount of pressure and attacks, Cain said. He also claimed there is 100 percent organized opposition targeting federal agents.

Cain has been especially vocal because of his own connection to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In late 2025, he announced plans to join ICE as an honorary agent, a move he has publicly supported on social media and in interviews. In those appearances, he has argued that agents are being unfairly blamed before all facts are known.

During the same interview, Cain suggested that Alex Pretti’s actions may have played a role in what happened. He speculated that agents could have believed a felony was taking place, such as obstruction of federal officers. Cain also pointed to the fact that Pretti was legally armed. He said that showing up armed around federal agents was a serious mistake. It was a very bad idea to engage physically with federal law enforcement while armed, Cain stated.

Cain went further, saying Pretti was not simply a bystander. He certainly wasn’t there just being a peaceful protester, the actor claimed. Cain argued that even standing between agents and another person could be viewed as interfering with a federal operation.

The actor also placed blame on local Democratic leaders. He specifically criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Cain accused them of fueling anger toward federal agents. In his remarks, he claimed Democratic officials were using extreme language against law enforcement. They’re calling them Gestapo and modern-day N***, Cain said, though he did not provide direct evidence of leaders instructing people to confront agents.

Official accounts and family statements paint a very different picture of Alex Pretti. According to local officials and bystander video shared with news outlets, Pretti was a U.S. citizen with no criminal record. He worked as a nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and was known for helping others. Footage from the January 24 incident appears to show Pretti holding a cell phone while trying to assist a woman during the encounter. Moments later, he was pepper-sprayed, taken to the ground, and shot ten times.

The case has sparked protests and public outrage, with many calling for an independent investigation into the agents involved. The Pretti family has said he was trying to help, not interfere.

Outside of politics, Dean Cain remains active in entertainment. In 2025, he released Little Angels, a film he wrote, directed, and starred in. The story follows a disgraced college football coach who ends up leading a girls’ soccer team.

As debate continues over the killing of Alex Pretti, Cain’s comments have added fuel to an already heated national conversation. His dual role as a celebrity and an ICE supporter has left many questioning whether his views offer insight or raise concerns about bias.

What do you think? Does a celebrity’s involvement with law enforcement strengthen their voice, or does it complicate the debate? Share your thoughts in the comments.