Mah Joins Legislators Across the Country in Supporting Minnesotans

CHICAGO – State Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, joins more than 600 state legislators from over 48 states across the country to release a joint national statement regarding the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) occupation of Minneapolis, MN, and the killings of Alex Pretti, Renee Nicole Good, and others at the hands of DHS and ICE.

The statement reads, in full:

“We, the undersigned state legislators from across this country, contend we are at a decisive moment in our nation’s history. For a nation founded 250 years ago on the basic and fundamental principles of freedom, liberty, and inalienable rights, having armed masked federal agents on our streets engaging in a campaign of wanton destruction threatens to destroy these foundational values that underpin our democracy. 

We are stepping into extraordinarily dangerous territory in this country and have reached an unimaginable point where ICE and Border Patrol agents have now, twice within one month, killed US citizens on camera while the federal government tells us not to believe our own eyes.

Further, the vast majority of ICE arrests in our cities and suburbs are of those with no criminal record, while due process and search and seizure rights guaranteed by our Constitution are not just being violated daily: chillingly, per a leaked memo, these violations are sanctioned by the Department of Homeland Security.

We stand with the people of Minnesota and demand that ICE and Border Patrol leave Minnesota immediately.  

We demand a full and independent investigation into the shootings and deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as well as others, over the last year.

Finally, we demand the restoration of our American values and principles to our federal government, an end to the abductions and killings, an end to the occupation of our towns and cities, and an end to Congressional funding for ICE.”

Mah recently co-sponsored House Bill 1312, protecting people from ICE violence at locations including hospitals, courthouses and daycares. Last week, she co-sponsored House Resolution 622, condemning federal violence and lawlessness, and calling for DHS Secretary Noem’s immediate resignation or impeachment. 

“I am proud to stand with my colleagues around the nation in supporting everyone protesting and making their voices heard in the Twin Cities. The freedom of speech, protest and press are First Amendment rights and we are seeing them all in action in Minnesota. I am devastated by the harm done by federal border patrol agents, who are responsible for 9 deaths this month alone. We must continue to stand up and speak out until the federal government and Department of Homeland Security does the right thing and gets untrained, violent officers off our streets,” said Mah.

The full joint statement can be found here.