Obamas react to Pretti's death: Protestors 'rightly outraged by the spectacle' of ICE

Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama denounced federal immigration enforcement tactics after the killing of Alex Pretti, describing his death as a tragedy and urging the Trump administration to change course in Minnesota.

In a joint statement, the Obamas said Pretti’s killing should serve as a “wake-up call” for Americans across the political spectrum, arguing that core national values are being undermined by what they described as aggressive and unaccountable federal actions.

They said while federal law enforcement and immigration agents face difficult responsibilities, the public expects them to operate lawfully and in coordination with state and local officials to protect public safety.

“That’s not what we’re seeing in Minnesota,” the statement said, accusing federal agents of acting “with impunity” and employing tactics that appeared designed to intimidate and provoke residents. 

The Obamas pointed to the use of masked agents and methods they described as unprecedented, mentioning that a former top lawyer at the Department of Homeland Security during the first Trump administration had criticized the approach as “embarrassing, lawless and cruel.”

The former president and first lady said those tactics have now resulted in the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Pretti and Renee Good. 

"For weeks now, people across the country have been rightly outraged by the spectacle of masked ICE recruits and other federal agents acting with impunity and engaging in tactics that seem designed to intimidate, harass, provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city," they wrote. 

They criticized the administration for, in their view, escalating tensions in Minneapolis. The statement also took issue with public explanations offered by administration officials, saying they appeared to conflict with video evidence of Pretti’s killing.

“This has to stop,” the Obamas said, urging federal officials to reconsider their approach and work more constructively with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and state and local law enforcement to prevent further violence while pursuing legitimate enforcement goals.

The statement also expressed support for ongoing protests in Minneapolis and other cities.

"In the meantime, every American should support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protests in Minneapolis and other parts of the country. They are a timely reminder that ultimately it's up to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms, and hold our government accountable," they said.