1 Person in Critical Condition After Border Patrol Shooting

One person is in critical condition following a shooting involving a U.S. Border Patrol agent in southern Arizona, an incident that has now triggered multiple investigations.

Local authorities responded Tuesday, January 27, to reports of an agent-involved shooting in the unincorporated community of Arivaca, a small area located just north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

According to a news release from the Santa Rita Fire District, emergency crews arrived to find one individual in custody and in critical condition. First responders provided immediate medical care at the scene before the patient was airlifted by medical helicopter to a regional trauma center.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department confirmed it has been asked to investigate the shooting at the request of federal authorities. In a statement, the department said the request came from the Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier that day.

“PCSD is conducting a parallel investigation and has been asked to lead the use-of-force investigation involving the agent,” the statement said, adding that such requests are standard practice when federal agencies are involved in shootings within Pima County. Officials emphasized the goal of transparency and thorough review.

Authorities urged patience as the investigation unfolds, noting that use-of-force cases are complex and time-consuming. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos was scheduled to hold a media briefing later Tuesday to address the incident.

The FBI stated that its inquiry centers on an alleged assault on a federal officer and confirmed that one individual was taken into custody. Officials did not release details about what led up to the shooting or provide an update on the injured person’s condition.

The Arizona incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement nationwide. According to NBC News, federal immigration officers have shot at least 12 people since September as part of intensified enforcement efforts under the Trump administration.

Two recent incidents in Minneapolis resulted in the deaths of American citizens and sparked widespread controversy.

On January 7, 37-year-old Renee Good, a mother of three, was shot and killed by an ICE officer during federal operations in south Minneapolis. Cell phone footage showed the officer firing through the open driver’s side window of Good’s SUV as she appeared to be attempting to drive away after encountering immigration activity near her child’s school.

Federal officials initially labeled Good a “domestic terrorist,” claiming she tried to use her vehicle as a weapon. The officer involved has not been charged, though several use-of-force experts have questioned that account.

“In order to use deadly force, your life or someone else’s life must be in immediate danger,” said Chris Burbank, a former Salt Lake City police chief. “I don’t believe that threshold was met.”

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison later called for a fair and transparent investigation, while federal officials maintained that the FBI would handle the case.

Just weeks later, on January 24, 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti was also shot and killed by a federal immigration agent during a protest in Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security claimed Pretti approached agents with a handgun and violently resisted. However, video later verified by The New York Times appeared to contradict that narrative, showing Pretti with his hands visible and his firearm holstered as agents deployed pepper spray.

Eyewitnesses said Pretti was attempting to help another woman when agents pinned him to the ground and fired multiple shots. A pediatrician who was present said agents initially prevented medical assistance, prompting the doctor to intervene and attempt CPR. Pretti was pronounced dead at the scene when EMS arrived.

As investigations continue into the Arizona shooting, civil rights advocates and community members are once again calling for greater oversight, transparency, and accountability in federal use-of-force cases — especially as enforcement actions expand across the country.