Since January 20, 2025, Federal immigration officers have been involved in 19 shootings, 5 of them fatal: Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, an unnamed Mexican national, Keith Porter, Jr., Renee Good, and Alex Pretti. ICE and CBP are rogue agencies that are on track to kill more than a hundred people this year in detention centers and on the streets. ICE and CBP continue to operate above legal authority and repeatedly violate the Constitution. We never expected to witness this in the United States.
Randi Weingarten, President of AFT, shared her statement about these horrific events:
The federal government is supposed to protect, not endanger, Americans. It is traumatizing communities, making it nearly impossible to do our work as educators, healthcare workers and public service professionals…It is time for de-escalation, transparency and accountability. The federal government’s actions today—both the killing and the cover-up—are a disgrace. This is not who we are as Americans.
Alex Pretti was a union sibling–AFGE member and VA ICU nurse. Pretti’s murder is unjust and lawless. We ask you to join us in standing with our Minneapolis siblings and community to protect our neighbors and each other. WE keep us safe!
Solidarity is the only path we have forward. We can’t afford to be idle in this moment; not acting could mean losing our freedoms and our rights. We encourage you to consider a few ways you can act this week.
- If you are in Seattle, the Washington For All coalition is rallying at the Federal Building at 5:00 PM tonight, in solidarity with Minnesota – you can find more details here.
- For Washingtonians outside of Seattle, there may be events in your area. We would be happy to amplify those events; please contact Cortney Marabetta at cmarabetta@aftwa.org.
- There is a bill in the Legislature, HB 2648, which requests Washington law enforcement record and monitor US Federal agents active in our state. You can sign in PRO or submit written testimony here.
- The budget is currently in front of the Senate. Now is the time to send a letter to our Senators and tell them no funding for ICE.
- Tonight, Women's March, 50501, and other groups are hosting an ICE Out Nonviolent Action Training at 4:30 PM PT.
- Show up at your local Senate office to demand an end to DHS funding. Find your Senator’s office and contact information here.
- Demand corporations like Target become 4th Amendment businesses, cease economic relations with ICE, and refuse ICE entry to their property for staging grounds. Get started here.
Head to iceoutforgood.org for more information on how to engage in coordinated action across the country.
And most importantly of all, let’s act to take care of each other so that we can move forward together and rise up to the unprecedented challenges we face.
In solidarity,
The Edmonds College Federation of Teachers Executive Board
Statement written by Nina Kunimoto