Stuart Joins Legislators Across the Country in Supporting Minnesotans

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, 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.”

Stuart released her own statement on the overreach of ICE in Minnesota earlier this week.

“What we’re seeing in the Twin Cities isn’t just wrong, it’s unconstitutional. The Constitution ensures our right to free speech and press, and to protest peacefully. No one should be killed for an action that is Constitutionally guaranteed to them. Federal immigration agents are responsible for 9 deaths this month alone. We must do all we can to urge for full investigations and accountability in all of these tragic cases,” said Stuart.

“I stand with the people of Minnesota who are standing up for themselves and their communities. It’s no surprise there are so many strong Midwesterners, unafraid of freezing temperatures, in Minnesota protesting day and night. Together, we will end the tragedies caused by ICE and others across the nation,” said Stuart.

The full joint statement can be found here.