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The Obamas urged the Trump administration to ‘reconsider’ their approach to immigration enforcement
Arpan Rai, Bryony Gooch & Isabel KeaneMonday 26 January 2026 01:03 GMT- Bookmark
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Donald Trump has released a list of requests to Minnesota leaders, demanding that they cooperate “to enforce our Nation’s Laws, rather than resist and stoke the flames of Division, Chaos, and Violence.”
In a lengthy post addressed at Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey Sunday night, the president ordered that state authorities turn over “all illegal aliens” and partner with federal authorities to further the immigration crackdown.
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama said the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal agent in Minneapolis should be a “wake-up call to every American” as the nation’s “core values are increasingly under assault.”
Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, became the second protester in Minneapolis to be shot and killed in less than three weeks, after a federal agent fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, 37, earlier this month.
“Federal law enforcement and immigration agents have a tough job. But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety,” the Obamas said in a statement on X.
“That’s not what we’re seeing in Minnesota. In fact, we’re seeing the opposite,” the statement added.
The family of Pretti has denounced the Trump administration’s “sickening lies” about the shooting.
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- Man shot and killed by federal agents named as ICU nurse Alex Pretti
- How an anti-ICE protester came to be shot dead by federal agents – the second fatal shooting in Minneapolis in weeks
- Alex Pretti's family slams 'cowardly ICE thugs' following fatal shooting
- Trump blames Democrats for Minneapolis unrest
- Gov. Tim Walz calls on Trump administration to stop 'gaslighting the entire country' and 'end this today'
VA affairs sends condolences to Pretti family but blames Minnesota leaders for his death
The U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs has confirmed that Alex Pretti was a nurse at a VA center in Minneapolis, but blamed state officials for the tragedy.
“We can confirm Alex Pretti was a nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. As President Trump has said, nobody wants to see chaos and death in American cities, and we send our condolences to the Pretti family,” Doug Collins wrote on X.
“Such tragedies are unfortunately happening in Minnesota because of state and local officials’ refusal to cooperate with the federal government to enforce the law and deport dangerous illegal criminals.”
Mike Bedigan26 January 2026 01:03In pictures: Heavy protests in Minneapolis
(AFP via Getty Images)
Immigration Enforcement Minnesota (© Copyright MinnPost 2025)
(AP)Mike Bedigan26 January 2026 00:48Clinton follows Obama with statement on Minneapolis
Bill Clinton has offered his own thoughts on the unfolding situation in Minneapolis:
In recent weeks, we've watched horrible scenes play out in Minneapolis and other communities that I never thought would take place in America. People, including children, have been seized from their homes, workplaces, and the street by masked federal agents. 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.
All of this is unacceptable and should have been avoided. 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.
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. If we give our freedoms away after 250 years, we might never get them back.
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.
It comes after fellow former president Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama also released their own statement in which they said the death of Alex Pretti should be a “wake-up call to every American.”
Mike Bedigan26 January 2026 00:35Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski calls for 'comprehensive, independent investigation' of shooting that killed Alex Pretti
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski called for a “comprehensive, independent investigation” into the shooting Saturday in Minneapolis that killed 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti.
“The tragedy and chaos the country is witnessing in Minneapolis is shocking. The killing yesterday of Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen, by ICE agents should raise serious questions within the administration about the adequacy of immigration-enforcement training and the instructions officers are given on carrying out their mission,” the Republican Senator wrote.
“Lawfully carrying a firearm does not justify federal agents killing an American—especially, as video footage appears to show, after the victim had been disarmed,” she continued.
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski has called for an independent investigation into the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti (Getty Images)Murkowski added: “A comprehensive, independent investigation of the shooting must be conducted in order to rebuild trust and Congressional committees need to hold hearings and do their oversight work. ICE agents do not have carte blanche in carrying out their duties.”
Isabel Keane26 January 2026 00:15New York Governor Kathy Hochul calls on Kristi Noem to quit
Governor Kathy Hochul calls on Kristi Noem to quitIsabel Keane25 January 2026 23:55Moment of silence held before NHL game in Minnesota
Mike Bedigan25 January 2026 23:40Trump calls on Congress to 'END Sanctuary Cities'
In a lengthy couple of Truth Social posts, Trump called on Congress to “immediately pass Legislation to END Sanctuary Cities,” which he described as “the root cause of all of these problems.”
“American Cities should be Safe Sanctuaries for Law Abiding American Citizens ONLY, not Illegal Alien Criminals who broke our Nation’s Laws,” he wrote.
The president added that his “requests” were “rooted in COMMON SENSE, and will provide the best possible circumstances to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
“The Trump Administration is standing by, and waiting for ANY Democrat to do the right thing, and work with us on these important matters of MAKING AMERICA SAFE like it is in all sections of our Country where we are, together with Local Leadership, participating and involved.”
Mike Bedigan25 January 2026 23:20Trump releases demands list for Walz and Frey
Donald Trump has released a list of demands for Minnesota authorities, calling on Tim Walz and Jacob Frey “to formally cooperate with the Trump Administration to enforce our Nation’s Laws, rather than resist and stoke the flames of Division, Chaos, and Violence.”
The president wrote:
1. Governor Walz and Mayor Frey should turn over all Criminal Illegal Aliens that are currently incarcerated in their State Prisons and Jails to Federal Authorities, along with all Illegal Criminals with an active warrant or known Criminal History, for Immediate Deportation.
2. State and Local Law Enforcement must agree to turn over all Illegal Aliens arrested by Local Police.
3. Local Police must assist Federal Law Enforcement in apprehending and detaining Illegal Aliens who are wanted for Crimes.
4. Democrat Politicians must partner with the Federal Government to protect American Citizens in the rapid removal of all Criminal Illegal Aliens in our Country. Some Democrats, in places like Memphis, Tennessee, or Washington, D.C., have done so, resulting in safer streets for ALL.
Mike Bedigan25 January 2026 23:10VA: Video emerges of ICU nurse killed by federal agents honoring deceased veteran
Video has emerged of the ICU nurse Alex Pretti honoring a deceased veteran at a United States Department of Veterans Affairs medical center.
Alex Pretti, 37, was shot and killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis on Saturday (24 January), just 17 days after the fatal shooting of Renee Good.
Mr Pretti thanked veterans "for their dedication and selfless service to our nation", in a tribute to the deceased.
Video emerges of ICU nurse killed by federal agents honoring a deceased veteran at the VA: 'Freedom is not free'"Today we remember freedom is not free. You have to work at it, nurture it, protected, and even sacrifice for it", he said.
Isabel Keane25 January 2026 23:00National Basketball Players Association releases statement on fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good
The NBPA has released a statement on the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis this month, saying the association “can no longer remain silent.”
“Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice,” the statement reads. “We refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all.”
Anti-ICE protesters marched outside the Target Center Sunday, where the Minnesota Timberwolves were set to play against the Golden State Warriors after their Saturday game was rescheduled.
Isabel Keane25 January 2026 22:45Newer1 / 5OlderMore about
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