Thousands of nurses and supporters gathered across the United States this week to honor Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse killed by federal agents in Minneapolis. Candlelight vigils were held in Washington DC, New York, San Diego, Chicago, Portland, and Eugene. The events called for the protection of patients and the end of funding for federal immigration and border agencies. In Washington DC, about a thousand people braved freezing temperatures to remember Pretti outside the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters. They laid flowers, held candles, and chanted, “No more funding for CBP, no more funding for DHS! Stop killing our neighbors!” The demonstration was part of a series of events organized by National Nurses United across the country. Nolan Lee, a college student from Minnesota, described the gathering as a moment of solidarity. “It’s comforting to be with people who care,” he said. “I’m here to hold community and pray that we collectively act. Minneapolis is only the starting point for a total federal takeover.” Lee’s parents are nurses who worked in Minneapolis for decades, and he has been checking on friends and family there since the killings. Alex Pretti and Renee Good, a poet and mother of three, were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis during a nationwide crackdown on immigration. Their deaths sparked outrage and a renewed debate over Department of Homeland Security funding, which failed to pass the Senate as part of a key spending bill. Democratic opposition focused on the agency’s role in the deaths and broader immigration enforcement. At the DC vigil, Congressman James Walkinshaw emphasized the importance of standing against federal brutality. “The Department of Homeland Security has failed to protect the American people,” he said. “We need the Senate to act to protect our communities from the actions of ICE and CBP. This opposition is a critical fight for democracy and American values.” Graduate student Elizabeth Coughlin, who also attended, said the vigils show national unity. “People across the US are coming together to show that what the government is doing is wrong,” she said. “ICE should be abolished. We want DHS funding stopped.” Nurses at the VA called for action and care for patients. Christine Grant, a nurse in Washington, said, “It’s our job to ask: how may I serve? We have to stand up and say: enough. This is not who we are. Enough!” In Minneapolis, Daniel Amyx, a nurse at the VA, made hundreds of lapel buttons in memory of Pretti. The pins read “Remember Alex Pretti, RN” and were distributed at vigils and within the hospital. Amyx said the response showed how much Pretti meant to colleagues and the community. “Alex has been relieved. Those of you standing here are the next shift. We need to get that work done,” he told fellow nurses. Vigils were not limited to Minneapolis or Washington. In Portland, Virginia, a mid-afternoon memorial stretched a quarter-mile along the road. Chicago, New York, and San Diego saw candlelight gatherings as well. Across all events, nurses and supporters honored Pretti and others harmed by federal enforcement while calling for reforms. The demonstrations coincided with a nationwide “general strike” on Friday, organized to protest the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Activists called for no work, no school, and no shopping as a symbol of resistance. Reverend Chris Antal, a VA chaplain, led moments of silence and long mournful keens at the DC vigil. These sounds have become a symbol of warning against federal agents’ presence. Participants said the rituals and gatherings were both a tribute to Pretti and a demand for justice. The vigils show how healthcare workers and citizens are pushing for systemic changes while honoring those who served their communities. Nurses across the nation vow to continue their work, ensuring patient care and standing against violence by federal agencies.