In a memo to Apple employees, company CEO Tim Cook has weighed in on the death of a man in Minneapolis who was disrupting federal agents who were enforcing federal immigration laws, telling employees he is “heartbroken” by the events.
Cook wrote that he discussed the matter with President Donald Trump, sharing his views and appreciating the president’s “openness to engaging on issues that matter to us all.”
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
Here is Cook’s full memo to Apple employees:
Team,
I’m heartbroken by the events in Minneapolis, and my prayers and deepest sympathies are with the families, with the communities, and with everyone that’s been affected.
This is a time for deescalation. I believe America is strongest when we live up to our highest ideals, when we treat everyone with dignity and respect no matter who they are or where they’re from, and when we embrace our shared humanity. This is something Apple has always advocated for. I had a good conversation with the president this week where I shared my views, and I appreciate his openness to engaging on issues that matter to us all.
I know this is very emotional and challenging for so many. I am proud of how deeply our teams care about the world beyond our walls. That empathy is one of Apple’s greatest strengths and it is something I believe we all cherish.
Thank you for all that you do.
Tim
Federal agents, primarily from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, are in Minnesota (including Minneapolis) as part of the Trump administration’s intensified effort to enforce immigration laws to address the significant influx of illegal aliens inherited from the prior administration.
President Bill Clinton signed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA) into law on September 30, 1996. This major legislation amended the Immigration and Nationality Act by strengthening border enforcement, expanding grounds for deportation (including for certain criminal convictions), introducing expedited removal procedures, imposing bars on reentry for those unlawfully present (e.g., 3- and 10-year bars), increasing penalties for illegal entry/reentry, and enhancing interior enforcement mechanisms — many of which form the backbone of current federal immigration enforcement authority used by ICE and other agencies.
Clinton also signed the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) in 1996, which further expanded deportable offenses and limited judicial review in immigration cases.
The Trump administration’s effort involves having federal officers conduct arrests, deportations, and related operations targeting illegal aliens, amid broader efforts to execute mass deportations promised during the 2024 campaign.
These enforcement actions stem from longstanding federal immigration statutes, such as those in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1952 (as amended over decades), which President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law in its foundational modern form, though subsequent presidents (including Clinton as outlined above) have invoked and expanded executive authority under these laws to prioritize enforcement.
Similar aggressive operations are ongoing in dozens of other U.S. states and cities without major incidents or fatalities because those jurisdictions cooperate with federal authorities, sharing information, honoring detainers, or otherwise facilitating ICE efforts rather than limiting or barring local law enforcement cooperation. In contrast, Minnesota — along with cities like Minneapolis — have “sanctuary” policies that restrict such cooperation, leading to heightened federal presence, direct confrontations during enforcement actions, protests, and tensions.
In dozens of states beyond Minnesota, the Trump administration has significantly expanded Section 287(g) agreements (which allow local law enforcement to assist ICE), covering over 1,350 agreements across 40 U.S. states (see map here) — cooperation that facilitates smoother enforcement.
The unfortunate deaths in Minneapolis (including those of Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026 and Renée Nicole Good on January 7, 2026) occurred during encounters where individuals interfered with federal officers carrying out immigration enforcement duties, resisted commands, or posed threats, resulting in the use of force by agents according to official accounts.
MacDailyNews Note: Cook has received pointed criticism via social media and elsewhere for attending a private VIP screening of the documentary “Melania” (a feature documentary about First Lady Melania Trump) at the White House on Saturday, January 25, 2026.
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