Former US presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton on Sunday (Jan 25) urged Americans to defend democratic values and civil liberties following the second fatal shooting of a US citizen by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in less than three weeks, as pressure mounted on President Donald Trump’s administration over its aggressive immigration crackdown.
The latest killing occurred on Saturday when immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse, during a confrontation on an icy roadway. The incident followed the death of Renee Good, also 37, who was shot by an immigration officer while sitting in her car earlier this month in the same city.
The Trump administration has blamed Democratic leaders for what it calls “chaos” in Minneapolis, a city governed by Democrats and designated a sanctuary jurisdiction. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey of refusing to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Tragically, two American citizens have lost their lives as a result of this Democrat-ensued chaos,” Trump wrote, arguing that sanctuary policies endangered federal agents.
Administration officials initially claimed that Pretti posed an imminent threat, describing him as an “assassin” who assaulted agents and pointing to a pistol they said was found on him. However, video footage widely circulated on social media and verified by US media outlets appeared to contradict those claims. The footage showed Pretti never drawing a weapon and being shot seconds after agents sprayed him with a chemical irritant and forced him to the ground.
Pretti’s parents released a statement on Saturday condemning what they called the administration’s “sickening lies” about their son, describing him as a dedicated healthcare worker with no violent history.
Public anger has intensified in Minneapolis, where protesters gathered on Sunday to denounce ICE operations. One sign held aloft read: “Be Pretti, be Good,” referencing both victims. Demonstrations have continued amid heightened security and an expanded federal presence.
The shootings drew sharp rebukes from Democratic leaders, including two of Trump’s predecessors. Barack and Michelle Obama said in a joint statement that Pretti’s death should serve as a “wake-up call” that core American values were “increasingly under assault.”
Hours later, Bill Clinton issued a strongly worded statement accusing the administration of normalising violence against civilians. He said peaceful protesters had been “arrested, beaten, teargassed, and most searingly, in the cases of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, shot and killed.”
“All of this is unacceptable,” Clinton said, urging Americans to “stand up, speak out” to protect freedoms. “If we give our freedoms away after 250 years, we might never get them back.”
Senior administration officials acknowledged that an investigation would be required. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC’s Meet the Press that authorities were reviewing the incident. Trump himself, in a brief interview with The Wall Street Journal, declined twice to say whether the officer involved acted appropriately.
“We’re looking, we’re reviewing everything and will come out with a determination,” Trump said.
Several Republican senators have joined Democrats in calling for a full and transparent investigation and for cooperation with local law enforcement. The administration previously excluded local authorities from the federal probe into Good’s death, a move that drew criticism from state officials.
Walz directly challenged Trump during a press briefing on Sunday, asking: “What do we need to do to get these federal agents out of our state?”
Business leaders also weighed in. Executives from 60 Minnesota-based corporations, including Target and General Mills, signed an open letter calling for an “immediate de-escalation of tensions” and urging federal, state and local authorities to work together.
Minneapolis has been the focus of a large-scale immigration enforcement operation following conservative media reports alleging fraud within the city’s Somali immigrant community, claims repeatedly amplified by Trump. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison rejected the administration’s narrative, saying federal authorities were “sending armed masked men” instead of investigators.
Recent polling shows growing voter unease over the administration’s immigration tactics, as videos of masked agents detaining people — including children — continue to circulate nationwide.
