Former US presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have condemned the fatal shooting of nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, calling it a “heartbreaking tragedy” and urging Americans to speak out. Obama described the incident as “a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault”. Clinton said the US faced a historic moment that would shape it for years to come.
Calls for a full investigation into the killing have come from across the political spectrum, including Republicans such as Vermont governor Phil Scott and Nebraska senator Pete Ricketts, as well as pro-gun groups like the NRA. Minnesota governor Tim Walz has appealed to President Donald Trump to withdraw federal agents from the state, imploring him to “please show some decency”. Trump, however, blamed Democrats for causing “chaos” leading to the deaths of Pretti and another US citizen, Renee Nicole Good.
Witnesses have testified under oath that Pretti did not brandish a gun before he was shot. The Trump administration’s secretary of veterans affairs, Doug Collins, confirmed Pretti was a nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center but blamed state and local officials for his death, citing their refusal to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Attorney general Pam Bondi sent a letter to Walz urging him to repeal sanctuary policies and share state data with the federal government.
Meanwhile, organisers in Minneapolis are calling for another labour strike after thousands demonstrated against Trump’s immigration crackdown. The New York Times reported that at least 200 people at a church meeting on Sunday called for a second demonstration, with speakers urging local businesses and employees to strike. On Friday, organisers said as many as 50,000 took to the streets.
