Former U.S. President Barack Obama was highly critical of the behavior of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a massive immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, stating that the behavior of the ICE agents was akin to what happens in authoritarian regimes and dictatorships.
In a far-reaching interview with liberal political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama referred to the federal operation as “deeply concerning and dangerous,” saying that the agents were acting
“without sufficient oversight and accountability.”
Obama said that the tactics employed by ICE represented a
“troubling erosion of our democracy and our civil liberties.”
Massive Federal Deployment Sparks Public Outrage
In the Minnesota operation, 3,000 federal agents were deployed, one of the biggest immigration enforcement efforts in the recent history of the US. Many videos have been shared online showing confrontations between agents and residents, including raids on people’s homes and the use of tear gas.
He also emphasized that because of the lack of clear guidelines and transparency with regards to the operation, there are also serious issues with federal overreach. He also said that the agents were reportedly “pulling people out of their homes” and used crowd control on people who were not breaking any laws.
Civil rights groups have also sounded the alarm. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reported that there was an increase in complaints of warrantless searches, racial profiling, and excessive force in the Minnesota crackdown. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General revealed that ICE has faced allegations of violating the rights of detainees in the course of their duty. The office revealed that the agency failed to comply with internal oversight mechanisms.
Fatal Shootings Intensify National Debate
The murders of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti in January by agents of the immigration enforcement agency sparked further public outrage in the country over the excessive force policies of the federal government. The murders of Good and Pretti sparked further protests in Minnesota, with many accusing the Trump administration of militarizing immigration enforcement.
According to the Mapping Police Violence project and the police shootings database of the Washington Post, more than 1,200 people were killed by federal agents and law enforcement in 2024. Immigration enforcement agencies have traditionally had fewer transparency requirements than their local police counterparts, which adds to the complexity of the issue. In light of the increasing criticism, the Trump administration has recently announced its decision to terminate the long-running Minnesota immigration enforcement surge, though not before what some believe was too late.
Civil Disobedience and Community Resistance
Obama commended Minnesota citizens on their peaceful protests and other forms of community-based resistance mechanisms. The protesters used whistles, car horns, and social media alerts to caution communities about impending ICE raids. They also used volunteers to record interactions with federal agents, which could potentially expose abuses of power.
The former president praised the protests, which were conducted in subzero temperatures, referring to them as heroic. He emphasized the efforts of common citizens in upholding democracy. Experts in civil rights emphasize that documentation of these abuses has proven to be instrumental in court cases, with video recordings being used to expose abuses.
Broader Concerns About Democratic Backsliding
Obama’s speech portrayed the Minnesota operation as part of a larger trend of democratic backsliding in the United States under the Trump administration. Obama argued that the unbridled federal operation in Minnesota was reminiscent of authoritarian states, in which security forces have sweeping powers to do as they please without checks or balances.
Political scientists have pointed to the trends in democratic backsliding across the world. The Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute notes that more than 70% of the world’s inhabitants now live in autocratic or hybrid regimes. Obama’s speech situates the United States’ immigration policies in the context of the world’s democratic backsliding.
Obama Criticizes ‘Clown Show’ Political Culture
During the interview, Obama also condemned the deterioration of political discourse, referencing a recent racist social media post shared and later deleted from Trump’s account depicting Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama in a dehumanizing manner.
Although he avoided directly addressing Trump’s role, Obama criticized what he described as a “clown show” in media and politics, where public figures no longer feel constrained by norms of decency, decorum, and accountability.
He argued that such behavior, while attention-grabbing, distracts from substantive policy debates and undermines public trust in democratic institutions. Research from Pew Research Center shows that trust in U.S. government institutions has fallen to historic lows, with fewer than 20% of Americans saying they trust the federal government to do what is right most of the time.
Call to Restore Democratic Norms and Rule of Law
Obama closed his address by encouraging Americans to avoid the normalization of extremist rhetoric and abusive enforcement practices. Obama emphasized the need for a renewed commitment to the rule of law, democratic values, and human dignity.
Obama emphasized the need for collective action and public accountability in restoring these values. Obama emphasized the need for Americans to hold onto democratic values by refusing to tolerate the abuse of power.
“The majority of the American people find this behavior deeply troubling,”
Obama said.
