Former U.S. Presidents Question ICE Operations and Abuses in Minneapolis

Former United States Presidents Bill Clinton (1993-2001) and Barack Obama (2009-2017) condemned the killings of civilians and abuses by immigration agents in Minneapolis, following another citizen being shot during an operation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whose campaign of terror in neighborhoods and raids have generated intense protests.

Through a message published on his X account, Clinton warned that there are historical moments when collective decisions determine a nation's course for decades. In that regard, he stated that "this is one of them."

"If we give away our freedoms after 250 years, we may never get them back," he affirmed, following the death of a Minneapolis citizen—intensive care nurse Alex Pretti—at the hands of an ICE agent, after others had previously pepper-sprayed him, thrown him to the ground, and beaten him.

The former president denounced the massive operations promoted by the Trump administration in several cities across the country, which have resulted in arbitrary detentions and excessive use of force by federal agents who, masked, have seized people, including children, from their homes, workplaces, and the streets.

"Peaceful protesters and citizens exercising their constitutional right to observe and document law enforcement have been arrested, gassed, and, in more extreme cases, such as those of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, shot and killed," he stated.

He characterized these events as unacceptable and accused federal authorities of deceiving the public by discrediting testimonies and visible evidence. "They tell us not to believe what we have seen with our own eyes," he affirmed, while denouncing aggressive tactics designed to prevent local authorities from investigating what occurred.

In that context, he urged those who believe in American democracy to raise their voices and defend civil liberties.

These criticisms were joined by former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama, who noted in a joint statement that the killing of Pretti in Minneapolis by a federal agent should serve as a warning to all of society, without distinction of political affiliation.

The couple reproached the Trump administration for aggravating the climate of tension. Both acknowledged the complexity of federal agents' work but emphasized that citizens expect legal, responsible actions coordinated with state and local authorities, not confrontations that endanger public safety.

In their view, Minnesota presents the opposite scenario, with ICE agents acting hooded, with broad impunity, and through tactics that seem oriented toward intimidating and provoking the population.

The statement recalled that these practices have left two deaths; in addition to the recent case, they mentioned the killing of Renee Good, a 37-year-old woman who died from gunfire by ICE agents during an operation conducted on January 7 in Minneapolis.

They also denounced that, instead of demanding accountability, President Trump and high-ranking officials appear willing to intensify the conflict while offering public explanations that lack support from serious investigations and contradict audiovisual evidence.

The text calls for supporting peaceful protests in Minneapolis and other cities, considering them a reminder that the defense of freedoms and the demand for accountability ultimately depend on the citizenry.