California legislators demand ICE leave Minneapolis, urge Congress to ‘do their job’

California legislators packed into the Capitol Swing Space on Monday afternoon, taking turns condemning federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and renewing calls for Congress to take legal action.

Democratic members of the State Legislature came together to speak out against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs Border Patrol (CBP) that led to the deaths of three U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and Keith Porter, who was shot and killed by an off-duty ICE agent in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve.

Anger about the three was mixed in with calls for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to step down and for Congress to refuse to approve a DHS funding bill.

“What is unfolding in Minneapolis is not isolated because it affects each and every one of us,” said Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas. He continued, “It’s a direct challenge to the fundamental freedoms that define our democracy … we will do everything in our power to move Congress to do their job. We will do everything in our power to protect California residents from ICE’s out-of-control, illegal actions.”

Following a call between Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and President Trump, the Associated Press reported on Monday that Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino and some federal agents would begin leaving the state on Tuesday.

Outrage over ICE’s weeks-long occupation in Minneapolis came to a head when Good, a 37-year-old mother, was shot and killed by Jonathan Ross, an ICE agent, as she was attempting to leave in her vehicle. Ross fired three deadly shots at Good.  

On Jan. 24, Pretti, also 37, a Veteran Affairs ICU nurse, was attempting to help a woman who had been shoved to the ground and pepper-sprayed by a federal agent, when eight masked men tackled him to the ground. 

Video shows the agents had already safely removed the firearm Pretti had in his holster before CBP agents fired roughly 10 shots, killing him. The Minneapolis police chief later confirmed Pretti had a legal permit to conceal carry.

“As nurses, we make it our mission to care for, protect the dignity of and save human lives,” said Sean Conway, an ICU nurse at UC Davis Medical Center and member of National Nurses United, of which Pretti was also a member. “We are outraged by the ongoing, unchecked violence of immigration officers across the country.”

Conway said immigration enforcement poses a “dire public health threat to all of our communities,” and that National Nurses United demands “the immediate abolition of ICE.”

As far as abolishing ICE altogether, Vice Chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus Liz Ortega told CALÓ News the caucus has not yet had formal conversations about taking a stance on the position, but that she’s sure those conversations will take place.

DHS and White House officials have labeled Good and Pretti domestic terrorists, while videos uploaded to social media by witnesses of both incidents appear to contradict the administration's version of events.

“Document the abuses and report misconduct,” said Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced). “The good thing is that there is video that shows exactly what happened despite the lies told by the federal administration.”

In December, Attorney General Rob Bonta launched a portal for California residents to upload photos and videos of federal agent misconduct in order to start developing a record to be used for future legal proceedings.

Many of the legislators on Monday called on their Democratic counterparts in Congress to withhold their votes from a DHS funding bill later this week. If Democrats don’t vote to pass the bill, the government will partially shut down for the second time since Trump stepped into office last January.

“The time has come for Democrats in Washington, D.C. to do their part,” said Ortega. She continued, “No more statements of strength. If you say you’re gonna do something, do it.”

“It’s time for the United States Congress to stand up for the American people,” said Rivas. He went on to say, “I'm calling on our national Democratic leaders to stand resolutely against this president, and if that means shutting down the federal government, then so be it. Shut it down.”

Rivas implored Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to lead the opposition, saying Schumer must lead with strength or “step aside and allow someone who will.”