St. Paul woman indicted for biting off HSI agent’s fingertip at Pretti protest
A federal grand jury in Minnesota has indicted 27‑year‑old Claire Louise Feng of St. Paul on a charge of inflicting bodily injury on a federal law enforcement officer, after Homeland Security says she bit off the tip of an agent’s finger during a Jan. 24 protest at the scene of the fatal Alex Pretti shooting in Minneapolis. According to charging documents, Homeland Security Investigations agents were trying to secure a perimeter after Pretti was killed when one agent moved to arrest a person who had thrown a tear‑gas canister back at officers; prosecutors allege Feng then tackled that agent, and when another agent took her to the ground she bit his right ring finger, severing the tip and leaving the bone exposed. The case, investigated by DHS, ICE and HSI, now heads into federal court and adds to the criminal fallout around Operation Metro Surge and the protests that have followed the Border Patrol killing. The indictment will likely become part of the broader political and legal fight over how far both federal agents and protesters have gone in Minneapolis‑area clashes since January.
📌 Key Facts
- Defendant: Claire Louise Feng, 27, of St. Paul, federally indicted for inflicting bodily injury on a federal law enforcement officer.
- Incident date and location: Jan. 24, 2026, at the Minneapolis crime scene where Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti.
- Alleged conduct: DOJ says Feng tackled an HSI agent during an arrest and bit off the tip of another agent’s right ring finger, severing it and exposing bone.
📊 Relevant Data
Since President Trump's second inauguration in 2025, there have been at least 20 incidents in which U.S. immigration agents shot at people during enforcement operations.
How Many People Have Been Shot in ICE Raids? — The Trace
The Venezuelan-origin population in the United States increased by 119% from 545,000 in 2019 to 1.2 million in 2024.
7 facts about Venezuelans in the US — Pew Research Center
Venezuela experienced a homicide rate of 26.2 per 100,000 inhabitants in recent years, contributing to sustained migration.
Immigrants in the United States commit crimes at lower rates than the U.S.-born population.
Explainer: Immigrants and Crime in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
There has been an unprecedented 1300% increase in assaults on ICE officers, attributed to radical rhetoric by sanctuary politicians.
Radical Rhetoric by Sanctuary Politicians Leads to an Unprecedented 1300% Increase in Assaults — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
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