Former President Joe Biden has sharply condemned the recent violence in Minneapolis, describing it as a betrayal of American values. The incidents involved federal agents fatally shooting two US citizens during protests against immigration enforcement.

Biden took to X on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, to criticise the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

“We are not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street. We are not a nation that allows our citizens to be brutalised for exercising their constitutional rights. We are not a nation that tramples the 4th Amendment and tolerates our neighbours being terrorised,” he said.

The first shooting occurred on January 7, 2026. Renee Good, a 37-year-old widow and mother, died after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot her in her car in a residential area.

Authorities initially claimed she had “viciously run over” an officer, but videos and witness reports contradict this. Her death triggered large protests across Minneapolis, with thousands marching against aggressive federal raids under Operation Metro Surge.

Seventeen days later, on January 24, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents. Pretti, who carried a legally permitted firearm, appeared to record agents and assist someone during a confrontation.

Video footage shows him holding a phone before agents tackled and shot him multiple times. The Department of Homeland Security has released body-camera footage, but critics argue that early accounts from officials do not match what was captured.

Minnesotans push for justice

Biden praised the people of Minnesota for their response. He said the residents stood strong – helping community members in unimaginable circumstances, speaking out against injustice when they see it, and holding our government accountable.

He added that Minnesotans reminded us all what it is to be American and said they had“suffered enough at the hands of this Administration.

He called for full and transparent investigations into both deaths.

“Justice requires full, fair, and transparent investigations into the deaths of the two Americans who lost their lives in the city they called home,” he said. “Jill and I are sending strength to the families and communities who love Alex Pretti and Renee Good as we all mourn their senseless deaths.”

The shootings have sparked a political backlash. Early comments from the Trump administration labelled the victims as threats or terrorists, though some officials later walked back these claims.

Protests continue in the city, and both Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have urged federal agents to leave. The Border Patrol commander in charge has been replaced, and operations appear to have scaled back amid public outcry.