A masked ICE agent taps on the window of an observer’s vehicle in Minnesota in January. Some Democratic states want to limit federal immigration enforcement actions. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
“As far as ICE in general, I think they’re doing a great job. There are mistakes that are being made.” – Sen. Jim Justice, RW.Va.
Republican politicians (including all Republican Senators/Representatives from West Virginia) have long abdicated their responsibilities under our Constitution and given this administration free rein to violate the immigration rights of our citizens (and potential citizens). Killing innocent Americans is much more than just a miniature “mistake,” Senator said. And he’s not the only one who belittles ICE’s brutality.
As another example: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), Posted on X“Alex Pretti’s death was a tragedy and his shooting should be fully and impartially investigated. I’m glad @POTUS sent Tom Homan to Minnesota and I hope his arrival will help lower the temperature and restore order.”
Thune’s statement was a little too little and a little too slow. Homan is not an immigration savior and carries a lot of baggage by himself, including allegations of bribery.
Capito underestimated the situation when she said“We need to tone it down.” We must change our policies, Senator, and curb violence rather than condone it.
In 2026, Americans in Minneapolis witnessed incredible brutality by masked thugs enforcing our immigration laws. Instead, we murdered innocent American citizens (Alex Pretti and Renee Good) on our streets.
As someone who comes from a family full of dedicated law enforcement officers, I find the behavior of ICE and Border Patrol particularly abhorrent and unrepresentative of the good, dedicated officers I know and respect. The fact that virtually all Americans are immigrants (including my father and all four of my grandparents) seems to be lost on these people.
Furthermore, Trump administration officials’ strange response to the events in Minneapolis was to deny what we all saw with our own eyes – peaceful protesters being shot by incompetent, violent murderers. Here are just some of the crazy statements:
- “A suspected assassin attempted to assassinate federal law enforcement and official Democrats who side with the terrorists,” said the right-wing deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
- Then Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed (without any evidence) that VA critical care nurse Alex Pretti intended to “inflict maximum harm on people and kill police,” even though he never touched his legally registered handgun.
- According to Gregory Bovinothe chief Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis, said, “The victims are Border Patrol agents,” although neither Pretti or Good were injured in any way, as seen in numerous videos.
The American public is not joyful with the turn of events. Trumps Approval rate had dropped from 47% to 36% before the murders. There is no doubt that his approval ratings among independents (but not the MAGA base) will continue to decline as a direct result of the Minneapolis affair. The people of Texas and the United States want threatening illegals deported, not the murder of innocent American protesters.
Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives protest loudly, but have little power to correct the situation. As a last-ditch effort, they are refusing to approve funding for DHS unless major changes are made.
Surprisingly, several conservative Republican senators (including Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Rick Scott, Ted Budd, Ron Johnson, Ashley Moody and Tommy Tuberville) also initially voted to block the federal government’s funding package. With all Democrats voting against it, the bill failed, a long overdue wake-up call for Thune. And our government remains closed, which impacts air travel, among other things.
In 2016, the conservative GOP was replaced by the autocratic ReTrumpican Party, which foolishly refused to remove Trump from office even though he was impeached twice by the House of Representatives. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) has suggested that the GOP controlled the Senate should remove Trump. She’s right. And she’s on track in that too urge the Combating Law Enforcement Anonymity by Requiring Identification Disclosure Act, which she introduced in the House of Representatives last year.
The leadership of the Republican Party allowed the nation to get to this point while ignoring its constitutional responsibilities and the balance of power provisions therein. Gregory Bovino was transferred, a drop in the ocean. Even though Noem has been removed (i.e. fired), the fundamental problem remains and has not been solved by this administration. The Grand Old Party has become a cult that allows this president and his candidates to ignore immigration law and much more.
