Former President Bill Clinton has released a statement condemning recent fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis sparking, as protests continue in the city and across the country over aggressive enforcement tactics under the Trump administration.
Clinton issued the remarks on Sunday, January 25, 2026, in response to the killings of Renee Nicole Macklin Good on January 5 and Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, on January 24.
In the statement, Clinton described watching “horrible scenes play out in Minneapolis and other communities that I never thought would take place in America.” He detailed reports of “people, including children, have been seized from their homes, workplaces, and the street by masked federal agents.” He added that “peaceful protesters and citizens exercising their constitutional right to observe and document law enforcement have been arrested, beaten, teargassed, and most searingly, in the cases of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, shot and killed.”
Over the course of a lifetime, we face only a few moments where the decisions we make and the actions we take will shape our history for years to come. This is one of them. pic.twitter.com/fr4TclLBZd
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) January 25, 2026
Clinton called all of this “unacceptable and should have been avoided.” He criticized the administration’s handling, saying “to make matters even worse, at every turn, the people in charge have lied to us, told us not to believe what we’ve seen with our own eyes, and pushed increasingly aggressive and antagonistic tactics, including impeding investigations by local authorities.”
He framed the moment as historic, stating, “Over the course of a lifetime, we face only a few moments where the decisions we make and the actions we take will shape our history for years to come. This is one of them.” Clinton warned, “If we give our freedoms away after 250 years, we might never get them back.” He concluded by urging action: “It is up to all of us who believe in the promise of American democracy to stand up, speak out, and show that our nation still belongs to We the People.”
The comments came one day after Pretti’s death intensified demonstrations that began following Good’s shooting. Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross during an immigration operation when she was in her SUV with her wife, who recorded the encounter. Authorities said Ross fired after being struck by the vehicle, while critics pointed to video evidence showing a confrontation.
Cell phone footage from the agent who was rammed by the Renee Nicole Good. Rebecca and Renee deserved what they got. Absolutely no doubt in my mind now.pic.twitter.com/MwEtgGsNgJ
— Kim "Katie" USA (@KimKatieUSA) January 9, 2026
Pretti was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent during a separate incident less than three weeks later, with federal officials claiming self-defense as Pretti allegedly approached agents armed. His family and witnesses have disputed the account, accusing officials of inconsistencies with available evidence.
In this video you can see Alex Pretti struggling to point his weapon. When the agent sees Alex trying to free his gun hand he draws his weapon and fires. Anyone who carries a loaded firearm into the middle of a police action is asking to get killed. https://t.co/U1VSGD7Zdx
— Andrew Williams (@sa1ntandr3w) January 24, 2026
Clinton’s statement joined similar condemnations from former President Barack Obama, who described the killings as a “wake-up call” for the nation. Both former presidents highlighted concerns over core American values amid the Trump administration’s mass immigration crackdown, which has included widespread operations leading to arrests and deportations.
The remarks have drawn sharp responses, with some conservatives accusing Clinton of inflaming tensions, while supporters view them as a necessary call to defend civil liberties and oversight of federal law enforcement. Clinton’s intervention adds to the growing partisan divide over immigration enforcement, coming as Congress debates funding for the Department of Homeland Security and related agencies. The House recently passed appropriations bills that include some reductions in certain ICE operations but preserve substantial support for border security efforts.
As demonstrations persist and investigations unfold, the former president’s words have amplified calls for accountability, while underscoring deep divisions over how federal agents should operate in communities and the broader implications for democratic norms.
