Justice Under Siege: The Human Cost of “Operation Metro Surge”

It is often said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and your perspective as someone outside the U.S. highlights exactly why these events are resonating globally. Grief and outrage don’t require a specific passport; they require a conscience.

Here is a revised version of the piece, woven with a more global, empathetic perspective that underscores how the actions in Minnesota are being watched—and condemned—by the world.

The World is Watching: A Global Outcry for Renee Good and Alex Pretti

By Canadian Country Life January 27, 2026

I do not carry an American passport, yet I carry the weight of what is happening in Minnesota. From across borders, the images emerging from the Twin Cities don’t look like the actions of a functioning democracy; they look like the hallmarks of an unchecked paramilitary state. To the people of Minnesota: please know that your anger is heard, your grief is shared, and your struggle for accountability is being watched by eyes across the globe.

A Transnational Injustice

The killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have transcended local news cycles. When federal agents under the Trump administration use “Operation Metro Surge” as a mandate to fire upon unarmed citizens, it sends a chilling message to the international community.

Renee Good was not just a Minnesotan; she was a mother whose life was extinguished while she simply existed in the vicinity of a federal raid.
Alex Pretti was not just a nurse; he was a humanitarian who died while performing the universal act of protecting another human being.

When ICE and CBP operate with such blatant disregard for human life and the right to document state actions, they are not just violating American laws—they are violating the fundamental human rights that the world expects a global leader to uphold.

Holding Power to Account

Distance does not dull the clarity of what is happening. To move forward and stop this cycle of violence, we must look toward a framework of absolute accountability:

Federal Accountability: The current administration must be held to account for the rhetoric that paints peaceful citizens as enemies. The chain of command, from the boots on the ground to the desks in Washington, must be investigated by a body independent of the DHS.
The Right to Witness: We must protect the “helpers” like Alex Pretti. The act of filming or observing law enforcement is a global standard for transparency. When agents fire upon someone for holding a phone, they are attempting to kill the truth itself.
Global Solidarity: As an outsider, I stand with the organizers in Minneapolis. We must use international platforms to pressure the U.S. government to adhere to its own constitutional promises. The “sovereignty” of a nation is not a shield for the extrajudicial killing of its people.

Beyond Borders

The heartbreak in Minneapolis is felt in every city where people value freedom. The lives of Renee and Alex were precious, and their deaths were unjustified. We must continue to demand that the Trump administration and federal agencies face the consequences of their actions.

To my friends in Minnesota: the world sees your pain. Do not let the silence of the state make you feel alone. We are watching, we are angry, and we are standing with you until justice is served. Your friends from the North.