Former US President Barack Obama publicly expressed his support for protesters in Minneapolis who opposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions, calling the agency’s operations in Minnesota “unprecedented.”
Emphasis on citizen power
In an interview with YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen on Saturday (Feb. 14), Obama emphasized the role of American citizens in shaping the outcome.
“The reason I’m pointing out that I don’t think the majority of Americans approve is because ultimately the answer will come from the American people. We just saw that in Minnesota, in Minneapolis,” he said.
Criticism of ICE tactics
Obama criticized federal agents for their methods during the operations in Minnesota, citing the use of children to coerce parents and tear peaceful crowds.
“It’s important that we realize the unprecedented nature of what ICE was doing in Minneapolis, St Paul, the way federal agents were deployed, ICE agents, without clear instructions, training, pulling people out of their homes, using five-year-olds to try to lure their parents in… all the things we saw, tearful crowds who were just breaking the law, no.
Impact of local protests
Protests in Minneapolis and St Paul gained momentum after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents. Following the demonstrations, US border official Tom Homan announced the lifting of immigration measures in Minnesota, which many attributed to the success of the public protests.
“We’re being tested right now, and the good news is that what we saw in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and what we’re seeing in places across the country, including here in Los Angeles, was that the American people said no,” Obama said.
Condemnation of violence and federal behavior
Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama earlier called the killing of Alex Pretti a “heartbreaking tragedy” and a warning to the nation.
“It’s a wake-up call for every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under attack,” they said in a statement.