Only 17 days after Renee Good’s death, a US Border Patrol agent fatally shot 37-year-old US citizen and registered ICU nurse Alex Pretti, marking the second death of a US citizen this month amid an ongoing federal immigration operation in Minnesota called Metro Storm.
While the shooting’s circumstances are disputed, Pretti’s death has sparked backlash among both parties against Immigration and Customs Enforcement and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security. Minnesota Governor Walz, a Democrat, called on President Trump to “act like a leader” and end the operation. According to the Hill, even Republican Rep. Comer hinted at pulling federal immigration agents out of Minneapolis, saying “‘I think this situation’s only going to get worse” and that efforts to apprehend “criminal illegals” would fare better elsewhere.
This is a developing situation, and I don’t want to issue a judgment on Pretti’s character or the circumstances of his death until I have all the evidence. Still, I join my fellow Americans in calling for a full, impartial investigation. During that investigation, I support temporarily reducing federal agents’ presence in Minneapolis to protect both agents and Minnesotans. Such a move would de-escalate soaring tensions, give the community time to heal, and allow federal, state, and local law enforcement to coordinate and decide on a path forward.
Yet my hope for lasting change remains fragile. After Hortman, after Kirk, after Good, after so many more, I thought: Maybe this time, things will change. Maybe the people who call ourselves our “leaders” — left and right – will say This is bigger than me or my side. For every American’s sake, these tragedies must end.
Unfortunately, that never happened. Every time, it only took a few weeks (and empty words about “unity”) to be back where we started — toxic rhetoric, partisan finger-pointing, demonizing our fellow Americans. It’s no wonder tragedy continues. And it’s a tragedy in itself that someone has to die for our Democrat and Republican “leaders” to even consider turning down the temperature. Clearly, both sides see accountability and justice as convenient weapons to drag their political opponents through the mud rather than sacred values that apply to all.
I am tired of hearing “The Democrats are destroying democracy! The Republicans are ruining the Republic!” I am tired of hearing about Why We’re Right And Why You’re Evil™.
That is not leadership. That is lunacy.
Our nation’s first leaders were not perfect saviors, but imperfect people like you and I. Although they rarely agreed, they put their differences aside, worked together, and overcame seemingly impossible challenges. President Washington once said:
The unity of government…is a main pillar in…your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize.”
In other words, when we lose that unity, we lose our liberty. Dehumanization and division, chaos and conflict – that is how freedom dies and tyranny rises.
So let these words be a warning, and let this tragedy become a turning point. May our leaders commit to respectful dialogue and real solutions. May accountability and justice for all prevail. And may our republic, our nation, our home endure for another 250 years because we chose to stand together today.
We are the United States of America. It’s time we started living up to our name.
