Former President Joe Biden sharply criticized federal immigration agents on Tuesday after they fatally shot two American citizens in the city this month, declaring that the United States “is not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street.”
Biden’s statement directly addressed the deaths of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, and Renée Good, a 37-year-old local resident and mother.
Agents killed Pretti on January 24 during a confrontation amid protests against aggressive immigration raids, while Good died on January 7 in a separate incident involving an ICE officer.
Pretti, a dedicated ICU nurse who cared for veterans since earning his registered nursing license in 2021, joined demonstrations against the federal operations.
Witnesses and circulating videos show him holding a phone—not a gun—while attempting to document or intervene as agents interacted with protesters.
Despite possessing a valid Minnesota permit to carry a concealed firearm, Pretti did not brandish it, according to family members and bystander footage.
Federal officials claim he resisted disarmament attempts, but multiple accounts and video evidence challenge that narrative.
Agents fired at least ten shots in seconds, striking him multiple times after tackling him.
Good’s shooting earlier sparked initial outrage when officials alleged she tried to strike an agent with her vehicle—a claim Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey dismissed after reviewing footage, calling it unfounded and urging ICE to leave the city.
Biden joined former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton in condemning the incidents.
He praised Minnesotans for protesting and speaking out against perceived injustice.
“What has unfolded in Minneapolis this past month betrays our most basic values as Americans,” Biden wrote on X.
He stressed the need for “full, fair, and transparent investigations” into both deaths.
Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden sent condolences to the families and communities grieving Pretti and Good.
The shootings ignited widespread protests, calls to abolish or reform ICE, and political pressure on the Trump administration.
President Donald Trump reassigned the local Border Patrol commander, Gregory Bovino, amid backlash.
Local leaders, including Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Frey, demanded accountability and accused federal tactics of terrorizing residents.
Nurses’ unions and civil rights groups organized vigils and actions to honor Pretti, highlighting his lifelong commitment to helping others.
As investigations continue, the events have intensified national debate over immigration enforcement, use of force by federal agents, and protection of constitutional rights during operations in U.S. cities.
