Medford Mayor Speaks Out On Recent ICE Actions

MEDFORD, MA — Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn partnered with leadership from a neighboring community to condemn the most recent actions by the federal government’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement organization in Minnesota.

Alex Pretti, 37, was reportedly protesting the operations of ICE in the city of Minneapolis on Saturday, Jan. 26 which resulted in his death after being shot by an officer. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem originally said that Pretti had brandished a handgun while protesting and arguing with officers and violently resisted disarmament. However, multiple videos filmed by witnesses to the confrontation suggest that Pretti never took the firearm out himself and had it easily taken by officers. One officer then took out his own weapon and shot Pretti multiple times at point-blank range while he was subdued on the ground.

Lungo-Koehn has publicly spoken out against the incident along with Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang. Together, the pair are Co-Chairs of the Metro Mayors Coalition.

This is not a targeted immigration enforcement action, but instead resembles a militarized invasion of masked and armed federal agents intended to create fear and intimidation.

“ICE is racially profiling our communities, detaining legal residents and U.S. citizens, and using excessive force against civilians. Two U.S. citizens have been killed and many more have been injured,” Lungo-Koehn and Huang said in a statement. “Parents are keeping their children home from school, worshippers are staying home from their religious community, and families are missing doctor’s appointments and work for fear of being forcibly taken. Community trust is breaking and public safety is being jeopardized. These unconstitutional and unnecessary actions increase tensions and make us less safe.”

The statement ended with the calling for ICE to cease all operations in the country.

The Metro Mayors Coalition is a collaborative of mayors and city managers from 17 municipalities in the Greater Boston area.

See Also:

Melrose Community Holds Vigil For ICE Shooting Victim

State And Local Leaders Attend Newton Anti-ICE Protest