Federal Actions in Minneapolis Spark National Debate Over Immigration Enforcement
Minneapolis, MN – The fatal shootings of two American citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis ignited widespread protests and spurred legislative action across the country, raising questions about federal immigration tactics. The incidents involved Renee Good earlier in January and Alex Pretti on Saturday, according to BBC News. President Trump stated his administration would "de-escalate a little bit" in Minnesota following the Pretti shooting, calling both incidents "terrible" in a Fox News interview, BBC News reported.
The circumstances surrounding Pretti's death are under scrutiny. A preliminary review by U.S. Customs and Border Protection's internal watchdog indicated that Pretti was shot by two federal officers after resisting arrest, according to an email sent to Congress and reviewed by The New York Times. However, the review did not support earlier claims by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that Pretti brandished a weapon during the encounter. Officials had provided no evidence to back up Noem's claim, which was contradicted by witness videos, according to The New York Times.
The shootings and Noem's subsequent claims fueled calls for accountability. Top House Democrats voiced support for an effort to impeach Noem, The New York Times reported.
In response to the events in Minneapolis, Democratic legislators in several states, with support from libertarian groups, are pushing to restrict federal immigration enforcement. A Colorado bill introduced in mid-January would allow individuals to sue federal law enforcement officials for civil rights violations, according to The New York Times. In Delaware, a bill similar to one filed in New York last spring would prevent commercial airlines from receiving jet fuel tax exemptions if they transport people detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement without warrants, The New York Times reported.
The situation unfolded against a backdrop of already strained relations between the federal government and some states regarding immigration policy. The rise in tensions also coincided with a sharp decline in U.S. population growth due to plunging immigration numbers, according to The New York Times.
Meanwhile, in other news, Amazon confirmed it will cut 16,000 jobs after an accidental email was sent to staff, BBC News reported. The email referred to a swathe of employees in the US, Canada and Costa Rica having been laid off as part of an effort to "strengthen the company." Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology at Amazon, said on Wednesday it was not planning to make "
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