Did ICE agents shoot apron 59 people under Obama
Executive summary
There is no direct evidence in the provided reporting that "ICE agents shot around 59 people under Obama"; the sources do not supply a definitive tally of shootings by ICE during the Obama years and instead document isolated incidents and systemic critiques of ICE use-of-force over time [1]. Recent, high-profile shootings in Minneapolis that have drawn national attention occurred in 2026 and are discussed in multiple outlets, but those events involve federal agents under the current administration—not a confirmed count tied to the Obama era in the supplied reporting [2] [3] [4].
1. What the reporting actually documents about ICE shootings
Investigative reporting cited here chronicles a history of deadly and controversial shootings involving immigration agents and related federal officers, citing individual episodes and patterns of concern about accountability and tactics rather than a neat numerical tally for a specific presidential term [1]. Contemporary coverage focuses on two 2026 Minneapolis shootings—one of which killed Alex Pretti—and the political and legal fallout of those incidents, including protests and calls for independent investigation [2] [3] [4].
2. Why the claim “about 59 people under Obama” can’t be confirmed from these sources
None of the supplied sources present a figure of “around 59” shootings by ICE during the Obama administration; the Trace investigation documents multiple deadly incidents and systemic problems but does not, in the excerpts provided, offer a precise count tied to the Obama years that matches that number [1]. The other contemporaneous reports are focused on 2026 events and reactions to them, leaving a gap in the supplied reporting for a verified statistic about shootings during 2009–2017 [2] [3] [4].
3. How journalists and experts frame ICE use-of-force over time
Long-form investigations and subject-matter experts portray ICE and related DHS components as having a history of deadly encounters, with examples ranging from undercover operations to enforcement actions that sometimes resulted in shootings and little accountability, a pattern documented by The Trace and discussed by former officials [1]. Former ICE leadership and observers interviewed about recent shootings have also said force questions are shaped by operational decisions, training, and the political context of enforcement priorities, noting that standards and oversight have been contentious across administrations [5] [6].
4. The alternative narrative from federal agencies and defenders
Federal spokespeople and supporters of aggressive immigration enforcement have defended specific uses of force as self-defense and released official statements and evidence—such as photos of weapons—arguing that agents faced armed suspects during operations, a claim repeated in several outlets covering the Minneapolis incidents [7] [2]. Those defenses are part of the contested record: advocates, local officials and videotaped eyewitness accounts have disputed some federal descriptions and called for independent probes [3] [4].
5. What would be needed to resolve the question rigorously
A reliable answer requires a primary-source tally: an official dataset or comprehensive investigative audit listing use-of-force incidents and shootings by ICE and its components across the Obama years, or a peer-reviewed compilation that clearly defines agency scope and timeframes; those are not present in the provided material [1]. Given the absence of such a count in these sources, the accurate position based on supplied reporting is that the assertion cannot be substantiated here; verification would require consulting DOJ/DHS use-of-force databases, Freedom of Information Act disclosures, or a full investigative report that provides the specific number and methodology.