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Thousands protest immigration enforcement as Trump visits Iowa
Deaths in Minnesota fuel anger as Trump makes Iowa stop
Jan. 27, 2026 5:52 pm, Updated: Jan. 27, 2026 6:52 pm
The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
CLIVE — In biting cold and mounting anger, thousands of protesters lined Northwest 100th Street on Tuesday to condemn what they describe as an increasingly aggressive — and deadly — approach to immigration enforcement, just hours before President Donald Trump arrived in Clive for a speech at the Horizon Events Center.
Protesters gathered in a designated “free speech area” outside the Horizon Events Center ahead of Trump’s appearance, where they held handmade signs, waved flags and chanted.
The demonstration began early and steadily grew throughout the day, swelling to more than 2,000 people by early afternoon despite frigid conditions. Temperatures hovered around 20 degrees, but wind chills made it feel closer to 10 degrees as protesters bundled up in heavy coats, hats and gloves.
The protest follows the fatal shooting Saturday of Alex J. Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. The killing came just two weeks after another Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, was shot and killed by a federal agent earlier this month.
Pretti’s death was captured on video by multiple witnesses. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Pretti was a lawful gun owner with a concealed carry permit and no criminal record, and multiple videos captured by bystanders do not appear to show him brandishing a weapon at officers.
Senior administration officials have defended the shooting, describing Pretti as an armed threat. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist,” while Border Patrol officials said he appeared intent on harming federal agents during clashes with protesters.
The two deaths have sparked protests in Minnesota and other states, with critics accusing the Trump administration of escalating violence as part of a broader immigration crackdown. Iowa officials have also weighed in, with Republicans urging investigation and calm and Democrats calling for federal immigration agents to leave Minneapolis.
Trump was asked about the killing earlier Tuesday while speaking to reporters after a live interview with Fox News’ Will Cain at the Urbandale Machine Shed. Asked whether he agreed with assessments from some administration officials labeling Pretti a “domestic terrorist” or an “assassin,” Trump said he was not aware of those characterizations but defended federal agents’ concerns.
“I haven’t heard that,” Trump said. “But certainly he shouldn’t have been carrying a gun. I don’t like that he had a gun. I don’t like that he had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff.”
Trump described the shooting as “a very unfortunate incident,” adding, “Everybody in this room, unless you’re a stupid person, views that as a very, very unfortunate incident.”
Among those braving the cold in Clive was Mike Roberts, 73, of West Branch, a retired farmer who said he came to oppose what he views as unlawful actions by the administration.
“I don’t think this administration is doing things anywhere near legal,” Roberts said. “I don’t like how they’re treating farmers. I don’t like how they’re treating immigrants. Let’s go back to the worst of the worst instead of just flooding everybody.”
Roberts called the recent killings in Minneapolis “horrific,” saying there was “absolutely no reason that either one of those fatalities should occur.” He said immigration enforcement should focus on serious criminals rather than people already in the process of seeking legal status.
He also criticized Trump’s economic record, particularly its impact on agriculture.
“Things have not come down. This is just all bluster,” Roberts said. “As a farmer, I think he’s actually hurt our local economy in Iowa. Tariffs have hurt the prices of our commodities, while input costs like fertilizer have gone up.”
Hallie Wemmie, 40, of Clive, said she was motivated to protest by what she described as a steady erosion of constitutional rights.
“There’s so many things it’s hard to name one,” Wemmie said. “I’m just tired of seeing rights being trampled on everywhere, and especially after what happened in Minnesota this weekend.”
Wemmie said she was less interested in sending a message directly to the president than in showing solidarity with other Iowans who oppose his policies.
“This is for Iowans,” she said. “It just feels good to be around other people who feel as enraged about the situation as you do, and to send a message that even in a red state like Iowa, there are a lot of us who do not support this.”
Jennifer Reding, 44, of Clive, said she believes the administration’s immigration actions are inflicting lasting harm on families and communities.
“They’re ripping apart families. They are murdering citizens. They are not following the law,” Reding said. “When the law is not followed, none of us are safe.”
Reding said her perspective is informed by her experience serving on a federal grand jury that handled immigration cases.
“I've seen this work through the process,” she said. “And there's no reason that we need to be attacking people and murdering people on our streets and using force to break down doors and traumatize families. There's a way to do it. There's a law and an order around it.”
John Tyson, a Des Moines metro resident, said he attended the protest as an expression of faith and solidarity.
“As a person of faith, this is about community and standing with our neighbors here and in the Twin Cities against this violence,” Tyson said. He held a sign reading, “For Minnesota. For Alex, Liam and Renee. For our neighbors. For truth, justice and peace.”
“In solidarity, it could be any one of us,” Tyson added. “These are basic rights and freedoms we’ve taken for granted, and now they’re at stake.”
As Trump’s motorcade approached later in the day, protesters continued chanting along Northwest 100th Street, their voices carrying through the cold air as they sought to make their opposition heard.
Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com
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