1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my outrage about the unconstitutional ICE occupation of Minneapolis that has been ongoing since early January. Thousands of paramilitary ICE agents have descended on the city, terrorizing residents through excessive force, racial profiling, shootings, and invasions of schools and places of worship. These operations have resulted in serious harm to Minneapolis residents, including deaths that the Trump administration has refused to investigate. Minneapolis residents have exercised their First Amendment rights through peaceful protests to protect their neighbors, yet they have been met with violence and unconstitutional behavior from federal agents. Local officials are working to counter these operations and refute federal government claims, but they need support from state leadership to effectively protect their communities. This situation is particularly alarming given that ICE is expanding its hiring while allegedly diminishing standards for recruiting and training agents. Similar operation surges are occurring in other cities across the country. What is happening in Minneapolis today could happen in our community tomorrow if we do not take preventive action now. I urge you to vocally oppose the atrocities being committed by ICE against the people of Minneapolis. Public statements of solidarity matter and send a clear message that these operations are unacceptable. More importantly, I demand that you take immediate steps to protect our community from an ICE invasion. This includes exploring all available legal mechanisms to prevent similar paramilitary operations in our state, coordinating with local law enforcement to establish clear protocols that protect residents' constitutional rights, and ensuring that schools and places of worship remain safe spaces. The people of Minneapolis need our support, and our community needs proactive leadership to prevent these human rights violations from spreading. I expect you to act decisively on this urgent matter.