Natalie Portman breaks down in tears over 'obscene' ICE raids and says they 'need to end' after US border patrol agent fatally shot nurse in Minneapolis

Natalie Portman broke down in tears as she discussed the ICE enforcement operations currently taking place. 

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) have made thousands of arrests since Donald Trump returned to the White House, sparking public protests in certain cities. 

Natalie, 44, attended the premiere of her new film The Gallerist at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah on Saturday where she sported an ICE OUT pin while posing for photographers. 

The premiere came after Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old Minnesota resident and nurse, was shot dead during an altercation with federal agents on Saturday. 

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a press conference that Pretti had 'reacted violently' amid the altercation and further questioned why he was carrying a legally-held weapon at the time. 

She added that Pretti had 'impeded their law enforcement operations, attacked those officers, had a weapon on him and multiple, dozens of rounds of ammunition.' 

Natalie was emotional over the incident as she began to tear up while speaking with the press on the red carpet. 

'It's such a horrible day, it's been a horrible week. What is happening in our country is just onscene,' she said.

'What Trump and Kristi Noem and ICE are doing to our citizens and undocumented people is outrageous and needs to end. 

'I'm very moved by all the people coming out an dsupporting each other in community and showing the best of America. It's just too much, it needs to end.'

In another interview at the same event, she said: 'Of course we're at an unfortunately horrific moment in our country with the federal government attacking civilians in our own cities. 

'I'm so lucky to be here in a joyful, creative community celebrating a movie we're really proud of but it's impossible to ignore what ICE is doing to our country. 

'I'm very inspired by all the amazing Americans who are coming out and supporting each other and being there in communities, it's beautiful.'

Stars such as Mandy Moore and Ariana Grande shared their outrage following the incident over the weekend. 

Mandy took to her Instagram stories not long after the incident and reposted a New York Times article that had the headline: 'Federal Agents Shoot And Kill A Person In Minneapolis, Officials Say.' 

The actress then added her own message at the bottom which read, 'We have eyeballs. 

'We've seen the video. They executed someone else. I'm not sure how this ends. This is terrifying territory.'

Ariana reposted a tweet shared by NYC mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani who wrote, 'As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another personal in Minneapolis today. 

'ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.'    

On Saturday, Pretti's family issued a statement on his death, saying he had been killed 'by murdering and cowardly thugs.' 

'Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital.

'Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not through around the hero term lightly.

'However his last thought and act was to protect a woman.

'The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump's murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.

'He has his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down all while being pepper sprayed.'

They concluded with, 'Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man.'

While the family accused ICE of the shooting, it was actually carried out by officers from the Department for Homeland Security (DHS).

On Saturday evening, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem echoed claims Pretti 'brandished' a weapon at her agents before his shooting.

But footage taken of the killing appears to dispute her claims.

One agent was seen removing what appeared to be Pretti's legally-owned handgun from his waistband.

Pretti was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed getting into adventures with Joule, his beloved Catahoula Leopard dog who also recently died.

He had also participated in protests following the January 7 killing of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs officer.

Pretti was a US citizen, born in Illinois. Like Good, court records showed he had no criminal record and his family said he had never had any interactions with law enforcement beyond a handful of traffic tickets.

In a recent conversation with their son, his parents, who live in Colorado, told him to be careful when protesting.

Family members said Pretti owned a handgun and had a permit to carry a concealed handgun in Minnesota. They said they had never known him to carry it.

The family first learned of the shooting when they were called by a reporter for the Associated Press.