McCollum: Ice Must Cease and Desist Immediately

This morning, a federal immigration officer shot and killed a 37-year-old American woman in Minneapolis. In response, Congresswoman Betty McCollum issued the following statement:

“For weeks, Donald Trump has directed ICE and DHS agents to racially profile and arrest Minnesotans in their homes, their workplaces, and on our streets. We now have over 2,000 federal immigration agents in our community. Trump’s reckless and dangerous immigration policies do nothing to make us safer. What they are doing is sowing chaos, division, and distrust not only in Minnesota, but across the nation. Today in Minneapolis, these actions resulted in a masked federal agent fatally shooting a woman in the head. My heart is with the woman’s family and loved ones, and everyone who witnessed this brutal killing.

“ICE must immediately cease and desist their actions in Minnesota to allow state and local law enforcement officials to restore order, prevent further violence, and conduct a full, independent, and transparent investigation into ICE’s actions and conduct which caused this horrific shooting.

“Minnesotans are justified in their anger. As Minnesotans, we demand accountability and justice. We have a fundamental right to express our first amendment freedoms through peaceful protest.  We must not fall into Trump’s trap of division and violence. We can show the world the best of Minnesota values – our compassion, our respect for the dignity of each of our neighbors, and our belief in justice for all.”