By Trendsetter Tribune 
Bruce Springsteen responds to the killing of Alex Pretti with a powerful protest song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” condemning federal immigration enforcement.
Just days after the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Minneapolis, Bruce Springsteen has released a raw and emotional protest song titled “Streets of Minneapolis.”
In a statement accompanying the release, Springsteen said he wrote, recorded, and released the song within 48 hours in response to what he described as “state terror” in the city. He dedicated the track to the people of Minneapolis, immigrant communities, and to the memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who was also killed earlier this month during federal enforcement actions.
The song sharply criticizes federal immigration authorities and senior Trump administration officials, calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to leave Minneapolis immediately. The lyrics echo themes of grief, anger, and resistance, portraying scenes of armed federal agents, protests, and loss in the city’s streets.
Springsteen had already spoken out days earlier during a surprise appearance at the Light of Day benefit concert in New Jersey, where he condemned ICE and referenced the killing of Renee Good. During that appearance, he urged Americans to stand against what he described as militarized federal actions against civilians and protesters.
“Streets of Minneapolis” continues Springsteen’s long tradition of socially and politically engaged songwriting. While he has written topical songs throughout his career — including tracks addressing police violence, civil rights, and political division — this release marks one of the fastest responses he has ever made to a breaking news event.
The song’s title intentionally echoes Springsteen’s 1994 Academy Award–winning track “Streets of Philadelphia,” drawing a parallel between personal tragedy and broader social injustice.
Springsteen has not announced formal plans surrounding the release, though he previously told Rolling Stone that he is working on a new solo album expected sometime in the near future.
As protests and debate continue in Minneapolis, “Streets of Minneapolis” stands as a stark musical response to a moment that has shaken the city — and reignited national scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement.