Somos Urges Strong Action from New Mexico Leadership After Third Federal Immigration Shooting in Minneapolis

In the wake of the killing by federal immigration agents of ICU nurse Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minnosota, Somos Un Pueblo Unido issued the following statement on Saturday afternoon:

“Today’s news from Minneapolis is unacceptable. Another person has been killed by federal DHS agents, the third shooting and second killing in Minnesota in recent weeks. This escalation is costing lives, terrorizing our communities, and deepening distrust in public safety.

At Somos, we believe immigration enforcement should never involve deadly force. No one should ever have to die as a result of an immigration encounter or peaceful protest of the federal government’s egregious actions.

We support Minnesota’s calls for ICE to leave the state and we call on New Mexico’s government for strong and bold action to ensure this does not happen in Santa Fe or anywhere in New Mexico. That means enforcing and strengthening laws that limit cooperation with ICE, fully rejecting 287(g) agreements, ending federal and local detention contracts, and requiring accountability and transparency from federal immigration activity in our communities.

Immigrant safety is public safety. We need committed and caring leadership from our elected officials. We need leadership that protects immigrant families and takes clear steps to prevent harm.

Somos stands with immigrants, families, protestors in Minnesota and remains committed to keeping New Mexico a place where immigrant dignity and lives are respected.”