The Senate Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on February 12, 2026, examining federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and allegations against state Attorney General Keith Ellison. The hearing addressed two separate but intertwined issues: ICE enforcement operations that resulted in the deaths of two US citizens (Renee Good and Alex Pretti), and Ellison's December 2021 meeting with individuals later charged in the Feeding Our Future fraud case.
Regarding the immigration enforcement incidents, video footage showed federal agents pushing a woman to the ground and pepper-spraying Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, who was then shot and killed after being disarmed by agents. Committee Chairman Rand Paul and other senators questioned ICE and CBP officials about de-escalation procedures and the 42-day training program for agents. Federal officials defended their actions, with acting ICE Director Todd Lyons noting the agency is tracking 1.6 million individuals with final removal orders.
On the fraud allegations, Senator Josh Hawley cited audio recordings from a 54-minute December 2021 meeting between Ellison and individuals later indicted in the Feeding Our Future case, which prosecutors called the largest pandemic relief fraud in US history, involving $250 million. Hawley alleged Ellison offered to help these individuals and received $10,000 in campaign contributions nine days later. Ellison denied helping the defendants, stating his office provided information that assisted federal prosecutions. The Feeding Our Future case has resulted in charges against 78 individuals, with 57 convicted as of January 2026.
