Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have called on Americans to stand up against President Donald Trump’s “chaotic” immigration policies after ICE agents shot dead another civilian in Minneapolis, intensifying public backlash over the administration’s mass deportation crackdown.
The latest incident occurred on Saturday when federal agents fatally shot 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti. The Trump administration quickly blamed Pretti, claiming he intended to harm officers, but the assertion was swiftly debunked by verified social media footage showing he did not attempt to draw a weapon.
The killing came just over two weeks after ICE agents shot and killed 37-year-old mother of two Renee Good while she argued with officers — an incident also attributed by the administration to the victim without supporting evidence.
Prominent US political commentators and experts have described the masked, badge-less ICE agents as operating with “one hundred per cent impunity” while conducting street-to-street operations.
In a Truth Social post, Trump blamed Minneapolis Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey, writing, “Democrat run Sanctuary Cities, and States are REFUSING to cooperate with ICE. Tragically, two American Citizens have lost their lives as a result of this Democrat-led chaos.”
Barack and Michelle Obama issued a joint statement on Sunday, calling Pretti’s shooting a “wake-up call” that core US values “are increasingly under assault.”
Former President Bill Clinton delivered a sharp condemnation, stating that peaceful protesters “have been arrested, beaten, teargassed, and most searingly, in the cases of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, shot and killed.” He added, “This is not acceptable,” and urged Americans to stand up and speak out. If we give our freedoms away after 250 years, we might never get them back.”
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison pushed back against Trump’s claims, saying, “It’s not about fraud, because if he sent people who understand forensic accounting, we'd be having a different conversation. But he's sending armed masked men.”
Since the launch of Trump’s “Operation Metro Surge”, residents in affected towns have adopted whistling alerts to warn others of approaching immigration agents, while occasional violent clashes have erupted between officers and protesters. Observers note that the aggressive tactics and rapid decisions by the administration may be linked to the approaching midterm elections in November 2026, which could shift congressional control toward Democrats and limit Trump’s ability to enact major policy changes.
The escalating deaths and public outcry have intensified calls for accountability, independent investigations, and reform of ICE operations under the current administration.
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