Former President Joe Biden called for transparent investigations into the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, stating such violence betrayed core American values.
Biden Condemns Government Violence
In a notable return to public commentary, former President Joe Biden issued a strong condemnation of the shootings. He stated that the events in Minneapolis betrayed fundamental American principles. “We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street,” Biden said.
Furthermore he argued that violence and terror have no place in the United States, “especially when it’s our own government targeting American citizens.” Biden explicitly called for “full, fair and transparent” investigations into the deaths of both individuals.
Two Fatal Shootings With in Weeks
Federal immigration enforcement activities in Minneapolis resulted in two separate fatal shootings in January 2026. First, on January 7, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent fatally shot 37-year-old Renee Good.
Then on January 24, the U.S. Border Patrol agent shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti. The city’s police chief confirmed Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a permit, and his only prior law enforcement interactions were for traffic tickets. Pretti worked as an ICU nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
Official accounts from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described both shootings as acts of self-defense. Authorities stated Pretti approached officers with a handgun and “violently resisted” during an attempted disarmament, leading an agent to fire “defensive shots.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem described Pretti’s actions as “domestic terrorism.” However eyewitness accounts and video evidence contradicted these narratives. One witness stated Pretti was filming with his phone and trying to help a woman who had been pepper sprayed when agents grabbed him.
“I didn’t see him reach for or hold a gun,” the witness said. Analysis by multiple major news organizations also countered the administration’s version of events.
National Reactions and Legal Action
The shootings ignited widespread protests and drew condemnation from various quarters. Former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton also criticized the administration’s tactics and the contradictory explanations for the shootings.
In response to the events, the California Senate passed first-in-the-nation legislation known as the “No Kings Act.” This bill aims to close a legal loophole and hold federal agents accountable for constitutional violations, a move state senators directly linked to the Minneapolis killings.
Meanwhile a federal judge granted a temporary restraining order to preserve evidence from Pretti’s shooting after Minnesota authorities sued, alleging federal officials had removed items from the scene.
