Former U.S. President Joe Biden has condemned the recent killings of two Minneapolis residents, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, urging a full, transparent investigation into the incidents.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Biden said the United States is “not a nation that guns down our citizens in the street” or “allows citizens to be brutalized for exercising their constitutional rights.” He emphasized that violence, especially when carried out by government authorities, has no place in the country.
“The people of Minnesota have stood strong — helping community members in unimaginable circumstances, speaking out against injustice, and holding our government accountable,” Biden said. “They have reminded us all what it means to be American and have suffered enough at the hands of this Administration.”
Biden also called on Americans to uphold democratic values, noting, “No single person can destroy what America stands for and believes in, not even a President, if we — all of America — stand up and speak out.”
He concluded by offering condolences to the families of the victims: “Jill and I send strength to the families and communities who love Alex Pretti and Renee Good as we mourn their senseless deaths.”
Pretti, a U.S. citizen and registered nurse known for his work with critically ill veterans, was shot during an immigration enforcement operation on Minneapolis’ south side. Good, 37, was killed in a separate incident when an ICE officer fired into her vehicle.
These deaths have intensified public scrutiny of federal law enforcement and sparked widespread protests, reigniting debates over immigration enforcement tactics. The killings occurred amid a weeks-long federal deployment in Minneapolis as part of the Trump administration’s anti-immigration initiatives.
Last week, U.S. security forces also shot a Venezuelan man in another Minneapolis incident, further fueling concerns over federal operations in the city.
