The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul have witnessed sustained protests in recent weeks over what activists describe as aggressive and opaque ICE tactics…reports Asian Lite news
Former US president Barack Obama has publicly voiced support for demonstrators in Minneapolis who have been protesting against recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota, describing the agency’s actions as “unprecedented” and troubling.
Speaking in an interview with progressive YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen on Saturday, Obama said the response from ordinary Americans in Minnesota and elsewhere reflected a broader unease with the direction of federal immigration enforcement. He argued that meaningful change would ultimately depend on public engagement.
“The reason I point out that I don’t think the majority of the American people approve of this is because ultimately, the answer is going to come from the American people,” Obama said. “We just saw this in Minnesota, in Minneapolis.”
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul have witnessed sustained protests in recent weeks over what activists describe as aggressive and opaque ICE tactics. Demonstrations intensified following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti during encounters involving federal agents. The deaths sparked outrage across Minnesota and prompted renewed scrutiny of federal immigration operations in the state.
Obama criticised what he characterised as a lack of clear guidelines and accountability in the way federal agents were deployed. He said ICE officers were operating “without any clear guidelines, training,” and alleged that agents had pulled people from their homes and used questionable tactics during enforcement actions.
“It is important for us to recognize the unprecedented nature of what ICE was doing in Minneapolis, St Paul,” he said. He further alleged that federal agents had used tear gas on crowds that were not breaking the law, describing scenes in which demonstrators were met with force despite engaging in peaceful protest.
While Obama did not call for specific policy changes, he framed the protests as an example of democratic participation. “Right now, we’re being tested,” he said. “And the good news is, what we saw in Minneapolis and St Paul, and what we’re seeing in places across the country, including here in Los Angeles, has been the American people saying no.”
The former president expressed confidence that civic engagement would help the country navigate the current tensions. “As long as we have folks doing that, I feel like we’re going to get through this,” he added.
The controversy comes amid shifting signals from Washington. Earlier this week, Tom Homan, serving as the administration’s border czar, said federal authorities would begin scaling back their immigration crackdown in Minnesota following the recent killings and the initial escalation of enforcement efforts. Some protest organisers have interpreted the move as evidence that sustained public pressure influenced the decision.
In a separate statement issued last month, Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama described the killing of Alex Pretti as “a heartbreaking tragedy” and “a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault”.
The couple also questioned whether federal law enforcement and immigration authorities were operating lawfully and with appropriate accountability in Minnesota. They said the tactics employed by ICE and other federal agents appeared “designed to intimidate, harass, provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city”.
As protests continue in parts of Minnesota and beyond, Obama’s intervention underscores the deep political and moral divisions surrounding immigration enforcement, federal authority and the boundaries of protest in the United States.
