Washington, Jan 25 (NationPress) Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama referred to the killing of Alex Pretti as a “heartbreaking tragedy” on Sunday, calling on Americans from various political backgrounds to recognize this incident as a sign that “many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.”

In a strongly worded statement, the Obamas acknowledged the challenging roles of federal law enforcement and immigration agents but emphasized that the public expects these agencies to function “in a lawful, accountable way,” collaborating with state and local authorities to ensure community safety.

“That’s not what we’re observing in Minnesota,” the statement continued. “In fact, we’re witnessing the opposite.” The tragic death of Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, marks the second fatal shooting by a federal officer this month in Minneapolis, igniting nationwide outrage.

The Obamas highlighted the escalating public anger towards federal immigration agents, particularly their use of masked officers and aggressive enforcement tactics in urban settings.

For weeks, they claimed, Americans have been subjected to the unsettling sight of masked ICE recruits and other federal agents operating with what seems like impunity, employing methods that appear aimed at intimidating, harassing, provoking, and endangering the residents of a major U.S. city.

They labeled these measures as “unprecedented tactics,” citing that even a former top attorney at the Department of Homeland Security during Trump’s first term had described them as “embarrassing, lawless, and cruel.”

The Obamas noted that these tactics have led to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens: Alex Pretti and Renee Good. They criticized the current administration’s response, suggesting that officials seem reluctant to impose accountability on deployed agents.

“Instead of attempting to enforce some level of discipline and accountability over the agents they’ve deployed, the President and current officials appear eager to escalate the situation,” the statement remarked.

The Obamas also challenged the official narratives surrounding the shootings, claiming they were “not informed by any serious investigation” and directly contradicted by “video evidence.”

“This has to stop,” the statement asserted, calling for a change in strategy following what they termed “this most recent tragedy.”

They expressed optimism that federal officials would reassess their approach and begin to work “constructively with Governor Walz and Mayor Frey as well as state and local police to avert more chaos and achieve legitimate law enforcement goals.”

The statement also commended the public’s reaction, praising the demonstrations that have erupted in response to the shootings. “In the meantime, every American should support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protests in Minneapolis and across the country,” the Obamas remarked.

They described these protests as “a timely reminder” that citizens bear the responsibility to “speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms, and hold our government accountable.”