‘Not welcome’: North Salem Town Board member joins calls to remove federal agents

Dear Editor,

I am heartbroken and outraged by the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old American intensive care VA nurse, by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Pretti was shot and killed as a direct result of ICE operations in Minnesota. Mr. Pretti’s death, like Renee Good before him, was horrific and outrageous, as eyewitness videos plainly show.

These attacks on U.S. citizens exercising their First (and Second) Amendment rights are unconstitutional and contrary to our fundamental rights and freedoms. No immigration enforcement mandate can justify this abuse of power by masked, poorly trained, militarized government agents and no spin doctoring by federal officials can change the facts.

I stand in solidarity with Senate Democrats in their efforts to block the bill to fund DHS and ICE until all necessary changes are implemented. ICE’s unfettered reign of terror must stop right now. I also call upon Congressman Mike Lawler to demonstrate some moral clarity and demand that President Trump withdraw ICE from the streets of Minnesota immediately -- and from any other states and municipalities in which they are not welcomed by local officials.

-Katherine Daniels, Member of the North Salem Town Board