Obama, Michelle Obama React to Alex Petty Killing Wake-Up Call

January 25, 2026 Marcus Rodriguez Entertainment

News Context

At a glance

• former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama said the killing of Alex Pretti was a national wake-up call,arguing‍ that federal immigration agents ⁢in⁢ Minnesota are...
• In ⁢their joint Sunday statement, the Obamas tied Pretti's ‍death to weeks of escalating federal immigration enforcement⁤ in Minnesota that has sparked protests, controversy and clashes between local...
• Federal officials said Pretti, a 37-year-old ⁤Minneapolis resident and Veterans ‍Affairs ICU nurse, was fatally shot by a border Patrol agent⁢ during an ⁢early-morning immigration enforcement operation targeting...

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former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama said the killing of Alex Pretti was a national wake-up call,arguing‍ that federal immigration agents ⁢in⁢ Minnesota are using⁢ tactics⁤ that intimidate and endanger ⁣residents while ⁤operating without sufficient accountability.

In ⁢their joint Sunday statement, the Obamas tied Pretti’s ‍death to weeks of escalating federal immigration enforcement⁤ in Minnesota that has sparked protests, controversy and clashes between local residents and agents, saying the broader ‍response to his shooting ⁢illustrates how the tactics being used have widened divisions⁤ and heightened ⁢tensions nationwide.

Federal officials said Pretti, a 37-year-old ⁤Minneapolis resident and Veterans ‍Affairs ICU nurse, was fatally shot by a border Patrol agent⁢ during an ⁢early-morning immigration enforcement operation targeting Jose Huerta-Chuma, an illegal immigrant with a criminal history.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said Pretti approached agents while armed with a ⁤9mm pistol and “violently resisted” when officers attempted⁢ to disarm him. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and state officials said he had a valid permit to carry a firearm.

BORDER PATROL-INVOLVED SHOOTING REPORTED IN MINNEAPOLIS

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A screengrab from a video shows a law enforcement officer spraying irritants ⁢at Alex Pretti before he was fatally shot by federal ⁣agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, ⁣2026. (Reuters)

“For weeks now, ⁢peopel across the country have been rightly outraged by‍ the spectacle of masked ICE recruits and other federal agents acting with impunity and engaging in tactics that seem designed to intimidate, harass, ⁤provoke and endanger the residents of a major American city,” they said. “These unprecedented tactics –‍ which even the former ⁣top lawyer of the Department of Homeland security in the first Trump management has characterized as embarrassing, lawless ⁤and cruel ‍– have now resulted in the fatal ‍shootings of‍ two U.S. citizens.”

The statement continued, accusing the Trump administration and DHS officials of failing to impose “some semblance of discipline and accountability”⁤ over agents‍ deployed to Minnesota, ⁣and instead appearing “eager to escalate the situation.”

The Obamas also took aim at‍ the Trump ⁤administration’s public explanations for both Pretti’s and Renee Good’s deaths – the latter a Minneapolis mother of three shot and ‍killed on⁣ Jan. 7 by an ICE agent during a federal‍ enforcement ⁤action – suggesting officials where drawing conclusions without thorough investigations and before all the‍ evidence had been fully⁤ reviewed.

FREY, KLOBUCHAR CALL FOR ICE TO LEAVE MINNEAPOLIS FOLLOWING DEADLY CBP SHOOTING IN CITY

Federal ‍agents fire tear gas at protestors on Jan. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. Earlier‍ that day agents ⁣allegedly shot and killed a ⁢protestor ‍amid a scuffle to arrest him. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty⁣ Images)

“This⁣ has ‍to stop,” the obamas said. “I would hope that after this most recent tragedy, administration officials will reconsider their approach, and start finding ways to ⁢work constructively with Governor [Tim] ⁤ Walz and Mayor⁢ [Jacob] Frey and also state and local⁤ police to avert‍ more chaos and achieve legitimate law ⁤enforcement goals.”

They also encouraged Americans to support protests in Minneapolis ‍and across the country.

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“In the meantime, ‍every American should support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protests in Minneapolis and other parts of⁢ the country,” the ⁤statement added. “They⁣ are a timely reminder that ultimately it’s up⁣ to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice,protect our basic ⁤freedoms,and hold our government accountable.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to ⁢the Obamas for further comment.