This past Saturday, 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during a confrontation at an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis. Bystander video footage of the incident shows Pretti being tackled to the ground by several ICE officers as he attempted to film their actions. Although Pretti, a legal gun owner, was carrying his handgun during the protest, the footage shows he was not holding the weapon when agents accosted and shot him. The entire incident has set off widespread outrage, and a significant number of Democratic Party leaders, including former President Barack Obama, released statements denouncing ICE’s increasingly violent enforcement tactics. “The killing of Alex Pretti is a heartbreaking tragedy,” the Obamas wrote in a statement shared on social media. “It should also be a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.”
Pretti’s killing comes less than a month after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, which drew national protests and condemnation. It also led to calls from Minneapolis leadership for ICE to end its presence in the city, including Mayor Jacob Frey. (During an official press briefing after Good’s killing, Frey requested that ICE agents “get the f---- out of Minnesota.”)
In a separate controversial enforcement incident, a five-year old boy, Liam Ramos, and his father were detained after returning home from his preschool, drawing further condemnation. “Why detain a five-year-old?” Zena Stenvik, the superintendent of Liam’s school district, asked. “You cannot tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal.”
Despite these mounting tensions and public outcries opposing the agency's enforcement tactics, ICE recently announced a significant increase in its workforce, and the Department of Homeland Security has deployed thousands more agents to Minneapolis and other cities across the country. While ICE scales its presence in communities nationwide, here’s how you can provide support to those impacted by the raids in Minnesota and beyond.
How to donate to people affected by the raids
If you're able to make monetary contributions, the following organizations are accepting donations that will go to those affected by the raids:
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
- National Immigration Justice Center (NIJC)
- Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)
- Immigrant Defenders Law Center
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center
- Pineros Y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN)
- Immigrant Defense Project (IDP)
- Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP)
- United We Dream
How to contact your elected officials
If you want to condemn ICE's presence in your area, you can call your elected officials and demand action—find a list of elected officials here.
You can also message the Trump administration directly. The ACLU has organized an email campaign featuring a pre-written message that asks officials to block mass deportations. You can fill out their automated form or send customized letters here.
Know your rights as a protestor
At protests nationwide, authorities are using tear gas, flash bang grenades, pepper spray, and rubber bullets to break up non-violent demonstrations. If you’re participating in any of these protests, it’s crucial to stay informed about what is and isn’t legally permitted. The ACLU has compiled a full outline of guidelines on their site, including the following dos and don'ts:
You may:
- Distribute leaflets, flyers or other literature on your own property or on public sidewalks, parks and plazas
- Picket or protest on public sidewalks, parks and plazas so long as sidewalks and building entrances are not blocked
- Chant or sing protest songs on public sidewalks, parks and plazas
You may not:
- Block access to sidewalks or buildings
- Disrupt counter-protests
- Engage in speech that is obscene, makes knowingly false statements of fact, or that is likely to incite an immediate disruptive or dangerous disturbance
How to track ICE raids in your area
A few community-driven platforms allow civilians to send live updates on ongoing raids, so that those nearby can monitor them.
Know what resources are available for those affected
Uncertainty in these times can take a significant toll on the mental health of those affected. Find a list of resources below compiled by the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for free
- The Immigration Advocates Network offers a legal services directory that lists immigrants' rights organizations by state.
- Informed Immigrant provides a digital hub and offline network offering the most up-to-date guidance on mental health, legal aid, and DACA information for the undocumented immigrant community.
- The National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR) has a Mental Health for Migrant & Refugee Communities web page that lists additional mental health-related resources for migrant families, children, youth, and others.
- USA Hello has a webpage that provides information on mental illness, mental health treatment, and mental health resources for immigrants in the U.S.
Sam covers all things pop culture, entertainment, and celebrity news at Cosmo. She previously covered those same topics, along with health, lifestyle, and beauty, at Seventeen. When she isn't catching a concert or live-reacting to awards shows, you can likely find her judging DJ sets at parties.
Annabel Iwegbue is a culture editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers pop culture, lifestyle, relationships, and digital trends. She previously wrote for Harper's Bazaar, The Knockturnal, and Black Film. She's originally from Charleston, South Carolina, and is currently based in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Cinema Studies from New York University. You can check out some of Annabel’s work here and also find her on Instagram and Twitter.
