LULAC DENOUNCES ICE SHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS AS DANGEROUS ESCALATION OF MILITARIZED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

Nation's Oldest and Largest Latino Civil Rights Organization Warns of Grave Civil Liberties Threat Posed by Use of Lethal Force in Civilian Communities

WASHINGTON — The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today strongly condemned the shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother, reportedly by a federal immigration enforcement officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. LULAC calls the fatal incident a tragic and foreseeable consequence of the continued dehumanization of immigrants and the militarization of immigration enforcement across the United States.

"This shooting is not an isolated incident. Rather, today's deadly act is the direct result of an enforcement culture that treats actions in our communities as hostile territory and immigrants as inherent threats," said Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Chairman of the Board. "When immigration enforcement operates as a militarized force in residential communities, innocent people inevitably end up in the crosshairs."

According to published news reports and statements attributed to Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the officer involved claimed to have fired "defensive shots," asserting fear for his life, the lives of fellow officers, and public safety. LULAC rejects the normalization of lethal force in routine immigration actions, particularly in civilian neighborhoods far removed from any border or port of entry.

"Lethal force must not be the automatic first response in civil immigration operations," Palomares said. "We call for the immediate cessation of the use of deadly force by immigration enforcement officers, except in circumstances where there is clear, objective, and imminent evidence of a threat to life. This level of force erodes trust, spreads fear, and fractures the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect," Palomares said. "It sends a chilling message that civil rights are conditional and that due process can be overridden by fear-based enforcement."

For 96 years, LULAC has advocated for and defended the constitutionally protected civil rights of Latinos in the United States and Puerto Rico. The organization previously warned that the tactics now being deployed represent an unprecedented departure from civil immigration enforcement and pose a serious danger to public safety, civil liberties, and the rule of law. LULAC urges better training for immigration enforcement officers and demands justice for the death of Good.

LULAC urges a full, fair, and independent investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice into the circumstances surrounding today's shooting. If the use of deadly force is found to be unlawful or excessive, LULAC demands that all responsible parties be held fully accountable under the law.

"This is about accountability, restraint, and the preservation of civil liberties in America," Palomares said. "We call on reasonable Americans and elected officials of conscience to speak out against the militarization of our streets and to demand immigration policies that uphold human dignity, constitutional protections, and the rule of law."

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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit www.LULAC.org.