Former US president Barack Obama has publicly backed demonstrators in Minnesota, praising protests in Minneapolis and St Paul against what he described as the “unprecedented” conduct of federal immigration agents.
Speaking during an interview with progressive YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen on Saturday, Obama said recent events showed the power of ordinary Americans to push back when core values are threatened.
He argued that most Americans do not support the actions carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), adding that meaningful change would ultimately come from public pressure.
Obama cited operations in Minneapolis and St Paul, where he said federal agents were deployed without clear guidelines or proper training. He accused agents of pulling people from their homes, using young children to lure parents, and tear-gassing crowds who were not breaking the law.
The Twin Cities have seen sustained protests against immigration enforcement, which intensified following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed during encounters with federal agents.
Earlier this week, Tom Homan said the Trump administration would scale back immigration operations in Minnesota after the killings and the subsequent public backlash. Protesters and activists have pointed to the decision as evidence that demonstrations forced the government to change course.
Obama said the protests in Minnesota, as well as similar actions in cities such as Los Angeles, showed Americans rejecting what they see as unlawful or abusive enforcement practices.
He added that the country was being “tested”, but said he remained hopeful as long as people continued to defend the values they claim to believe in.
In a joint statement last month, Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, described the killing of Alex Pretti as a “heartbreaking tragedy” and “a wake-up call” for the nation.
They said federal law enforcement and immigration agencies in Minnesota were not operating in a lawful or accountable manner, warning that the tactics used appeared designed to intimidate, harass and endanger residents of a major American city.
