Former US Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have joined growing criticism of the Donald Trump administration following the fatal shooting of US citizen Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.
Obama, in a rare political statement posted on X, described Pretti’s killing as “a heartbreaking tragedy” and said it should serve as “a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party,” warning that core national values were increasingly under threat.
Clinton also condemned what he called “horrible scenes” unfolding in Minneapolis and across the country, saying such events “never should have taken place in America.” He urged people to “stand up” and “speak out,” adding that the moment would shape the country’s future and warning against the erosion of freedoms.
The comments come after federal agents shot Pretti, a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident and intensive care unit nurse, during an immigration enforcement operation on Saturday. Authorities said Pretti was taken to hospital and later died from multiple gunshot wounds. Federal officials claimed he was armed and resisted attempts to be disarmed, a version of events disputed by bystander videos that appear to show him holding a phone before the shooting.
The incident is the second fatal shooting linked to federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis this month and has triggered daily protests in the city.
President Donald Trump, responding in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, said his administration is “reviewing everything” related to the shooting. He declined to say whether the agent acted appropriately but claimed Pretti was carrying “a very dangerous gun” and criticised him for bringing a weapon to a protest. Trump said federal immigration officers would eventually leave the area but did not provide a timeline.
Political pressure has intensified in Washington DC, with eight more Democrats signing on to a resolution seeking the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, bringing the total number of co-sponsors to 120. The Democratic Party posted “IMPEACH KRISTI NOEM” on X on Sunday.
Legal action has also begun in Minnesota, where state and county authorities have moved to preserve evidence related to the shooting, amid concerns over federal handling of the investigation.
Protests have continued in Minneapolis and other US cities, with demonstrators calling for the removal of federal immigration agents and accountability for the killings. Labor groups and local officials have warned that the lack of coordination between federal, state and local authorities has worsened tensions and put both civilians and officers at risk.