Friend — The situation on the ground here in Minnesota remains untenable.
Just days after murdering Alex Pretti, and weeks after murdering Renee Good, federal immigration agents are still threatening to take more lives. One agent told a protester, “You raise your voice, I erase your voice.”
They have continued brutalizing protesters, too. One man was tackled to the ground by Border Patrol agents, and despite being subdued, was pepper-sprayed directly in the face at point-blank range, which can cause permanent eye damage and blindness.
In Minneapolis, ICE agents tried to enter the Ecuadorian consulate, which is illegal under international law. Consulate staff had to physically block the agents, who were threatening to use force to enter. DHS lied about the incident afterwards and said they have “no record of ICE or Border Patrol being at the location.”
Selamawit Mehari, a legal immigrant with refugee status who lives in St. Paul, was visited by ICE and swiftly taken away. Her children produced paperwork proving their mother was in the country lawfully. ICE ignored them, shackled Selamawit, and flew her to a detention center in Texas. Days later, they released her in Texas with nothing but the shirt on her back. Family and friends had to help her get back home to Minnesota.
This isn’t an isolated incident either — according to the New York Times, more than 100 refugees have been arrested in Minnesota and taken away in shackles, only to be released with no way home.
And honestly friend, these injustices are not just taking place in Minnesota.
In Texas, ICE detained a father named Maher Tarabishi at a routine immigration check-in. Maher is the primary caretaker of his disabled son, Wael. The family pleaded with ICE, explaining that Wael’s health was quickly declining. Wael died within weeks. ICE didn’t even allow Maher to lay his son to rest under supervised release.
Wael and Maher Tarabishi
Just like Minneapolis, ICE has targeted the Somali-American community in Maine. But just like in Minneapolis, residents are observing, documenting, and protesting their reckless behavior. According to ICE, that makes you a “domestic terrorist”, the same label used to justify the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti:
What’s happening across the country right now is a dire Constitutional crisis: an all-out assault on the rule of law and civil rights by out-of-control government thugs that face zero accountability.
I’m calling on all of us to stand with Minnesota and every community today to help us fight back against ICE’s crackdowns. We cannot let them get away with terrorizing our neighbors and beating and killing people in the streets.
If you've saved payment info with ActBlue Express, your contribution will go through immediately:
It’s important for me to share these stories with you, so that Americans understand the violence and chaos being unleashed by their own president.
It’s unacceptable, and we must fight back for the sake of our democracy.
In solidarity,
Ilhan Omar
DONATE NOW
PAID FOR BY ILHAN FOR CONGRESS
This email was sent to [email protected]. Email is a very important way we communicate with supporters like you, but if you want to, you can unsubscribe here. You can also sign up to receive fewer emails.
Submit this form to update your contact information
Ilhan is counting on our people-powered grassroots movement to fund this campaign. If you can, stand with us by making a contribution today.
Ilhan for Congress
PO Box 33079
Washington D.C., 20033
