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Barack Obama says he supports Minneapolis demonstrators opposing ICE operations
Summary
In an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen, Barack Obama said he supported demonstrators in Minneapolis who opposed what he described as unprecedented ICE operations; he and Michelle Obama also called the killing of Alex Pretti a heartbreaking tragedy.
Content
Barack Obama publicly expressed support for demonstrators in Minneapolis who opposed recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. He made the remarks in an interview with progressive YouTuber Brian Tyler Cohen. Obama said the way ICE agents were deployed in the Twin Cities was unprecedented and described reported tactics such as pulling people from homes, using children to try to locate parents, and teargassing crowds. The protests expanded after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which the Obamas described as a heartbreaking tragedy.
Key details:
- Obama spoke in an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen and said he supported demonstrators opposing ICE actions in Minneapolis and St Paul.
- He described deployments by ICE and federal agents as unprecedented and mentioned reported tactics including pulling people out of their homes, using five-year-olds to try to find parents, and teargassing crowds.
- The Twin Cities demonstrations have grown after the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which the Obamas called a heartbreaking tragedy.
- Tom Homan, described in the article as the US border czar, said the Trump administration would draw down its immigration operations in Minnesota following the killings.
- The Obamas previously said federal law enforcement and immigration agents in Minnesota were not operating in a lawful or accountable way and said the tactics appeared intended to intimidate and endanger city residents.
Summary:
Obama framed the Minneapolis demonstrations as a citizen response to enforcement actions he described as unprecedented and criticized specific tactics used by agents. Federal officials announced a drawdown of immigration operations in Minnesota; Undetermined at this time.
