What Happened in Minnesota Matters in Arlington

Originally published as a Letter to the Editor on ArlNow.com

To the Editor,

People in Minnesota are grieving after federal immigration agents killed Renée Good and Alex Pretti. Their deaths have shaken communities far beyond Minneapolis. We mourn them and extend our sympathy to their families and loved ones.

What happened there matters here in Arlington. Federal agents carried out operations that frightened entire neighborhoods and ended in deadly force. Local officials had warned in advance that these actions would put residents at risk and undermine public safety. Those warnings proved tragically accurate.

When enforcement is aggressive and shielded from scrutiny, ordinary people pay the price. Arlington depends on trust—trust that is eroded when fear replaces stability. Parents need to feel safe sending their children to school. Workers need to feel safe going to their jobs. Neighbors need to feel safe calling 911 or cooperating with local police. Enforcement practices that create fear instead of safety weaken that trust and leave all of us less secure.

This week, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a funding package that includes billions of dollars for the Department of Homeland Security. That vote will shape the actions of federal immigration agents moving forward. Senators Warner and Kaine have raised concerns about advancing this funding without stronger accountability. Representative Beyer voted against the inclusion of DHS funding in the House and called for the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Arlington expects federal policy that respects civil liberties, ensures transparency, and protects public safety–policy that guarantees the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti are fully investigated. We know our congressional delegation is working to prevent tragedies like this from happening again, but they need to hear from us. It's important that Arlingtonians speak out and demand enforcement practices that uphold both the law and human dignity.

Arlington Democrats