Barack Obama, former President, condemned the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota during a podcast interview. He described their conduct as rogue behavior similar to practices in authoritarian countries.
The remarks highlighted ongoing protests against federal operations. Additionally, Obama praised citizens for their peaceful demonstrations.
The Interview Remarks
Obama spoke to Brian Tyler Cohen, podcast host, on February 14, 2026. He stated, “The rogue behavior of agents of the federal government is deeply concerning and dangerous.”
Furthermore he added that Americans deserved commendation for “engaging in peaceful protests and shining a light on the sort of behavior that, in the past, we’ve seen in authoritarian countries and we’ve seen in dictatorships, but we have not seen in America.” Obama also noted the heroism of protesters who endured subzero weather.
Context of the Operation
The Trump administration deployed around 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota for immigration enforcement. Agents faced accusations of pulling people from homes and tear gassing peaceful crowds.
Moreover incidents included the killings of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in January 2026. Obama called these events unprecedented and without clear guidelines.
Protesters’ Response
Demonstrators organized rallies and used alerts to warn communities about agents. They recorded encounters and marched in events like the “ICE Out” protest on January 23, 2026.
Meanwhile their civil disobedience drew national attention. Obama emphasized that such sustained efforts provided hope amid the crisis.
Official Reactions
Tom Homan, White House border czar, announced the end of the surge on February 12, 2026. In addition, JD Vance, Vice President, defended the tactics.
He stated, “If the argument is that you can’t arrest people who have violated our laws because they have children, then every single parent is going to be completely given immunity from ever being the subject of law enforcement.”
Negotiations between Democrats and the White House continued for new restrictions on agents.
