Former President Bill Clinton released a statement condemning two fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, as protests continue in the city and across the country over aggressive enforcement tactics under the Trump administration.
Clinton issued his remarks on Sunday, January 25, 2026, responding to the deaths of Renee Nicole Macklin Good, killed on January 5, and Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital, who was killed on January 24.
In his statement, Clinton said he has been watching “horrible scenes play out in Minneapolis and other communities that I never thought would take place in America.” He pointed to reports that “people, including children, have been seized from their homes, workplaces, and the street by masked federal agents.” He also said “peaceful protesters and citizens exercising their constitutional right to observe and document law enforcement have been arrested, beaten, teargassed,” and, in the cases of Good and Pretti, “shot and killed.”
Clinton called the events “unacceptable and should have been avoided,” and criticized the administration’s response. He said that “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 escalated tactics he described as “increasingly aggressive and antagonistic,” including actions that he said interfered with investigations by local authorities.
He framed the situation as a defining moment, saying, “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,” and urged Americans to respond: “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.”
Clinton’s statement came a day after Pretti’s death intensified demonstrations that began after Good was killed. Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross during an immigration operation while she sat 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 they say shows a confrontation that contradicts that account.
Pretti was shot and killed by a Border Patrol agent in a separate incident less than three weeks later. Federal officials said the agent acted in self-defense after Pretti allegedly approached agents while armed. Pretti’s family and witnesses have disputed that version of events, arguing that the official narrative conflicts with available evidence.
Clinton’s remarks echoed similar criticism from former President Barack Obama, who described the killings as a “wake-up call” for the nation. Both former presidents raised concerns about core American values amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, including large-scale operations that have resulted in arrests and deportations.
The statement has drawn sharply divided reactions. Some conservatives accused Clinton of inflaming tensions, while supporters said the comments were a necessary call to defend civil liberties and strengthen oversight of federal law enforcement.
Clinton’s intervention comes as Congress debates funding for the Department of Homeland Security and related agencies. The House recently passed appropriations bills that include some reductions for certain ICE operations while maintaining significant support for border security.
As demonstrations continue and investigations proceed, Clinton’s warning has intensified calls for accountability—and underscored the growing divide over how federal agents should operate in communities, and what the current moment could mean for democratic norms.
