Dear Neighbors, 

It is with a heavy heart that I write to you after our state has endured yet another tragedy caused by the surge of federal agents in Minnesota.  

On Saturday morning, federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis after pushing down other observers and spraying bystanders with chemical agents. Alex should be alive today, and my thoughts are with his family and all those who knew him as they grieve. 

According to multiple law enforcement professionals and experts, agents likely did not follow standard training, and Pretti did nothing to justify being shot multiple times. As in the case of Renee Good, I’m calling for a transparent investigation that includes the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Just the day before Saturday’s shooting, tens of thousands of Minnesotans marched in below-zero temperatures to make a united statement against federal action. Minnesotans from every background overwhelmingly came together to say: ICE Out of Minnesota. They did so peacefully and sent a powerful statement that we will not meet the federal government’s chaos with our own.

It’s been truly inspiring to see so many in our communities and across the state step up in this moment to take care of one another. Minnesotans are on the ground in their communities supporting food banks, helping kids get to school, helping families who can’t work, and sharing information and resources our neighbors need. It’s our Minnesota values in action - and it’s beautiful to see.   

I’m also heartened to see some in the administration and the President’s party voice concern over the actions of ICE, but words must be paired with action to rein in the abuses we’ve seen and actually take steps to restore public safety in our state. We’ve seen enough - this has to end. 

As your state representative, I’ll continue working to support our partners in state and local governments as they respond to these crises and push for accountability for the families of Renee Good, Alex Pretti, and all those who have been negatively impacted by ICE’s actions in our state.

In these past two weeks, there’s been an immense amount of conflict, especially if you're constantly on social media. However, it’s been my experience that when we get into a room and talk, we actually find that Minnesotans have far more in common than what separates us. 

Thank you to Shorewood Mayor Jennifer Labadie for hosting a Braver Angels workshop earlier this month. It was heartwarming to see so many people braving the cold to learn strategies to bridge our divide. Our kids and our future make this work so important, especially at this moment in time! 

As we come to the end of almost a month of disruption in our communities and state, we are also moving closer to the beginning of the 2026 Legislative Session, which begins on February 17. 

Lawmakers will be returning to the Capitol and meeting in session for the first time since the assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman, the shooting of John Hoffman, August’s school shooting at Annunciation Church and School, and this current crisis of federal agents on our streets. 

My colleagues and I have already begun drafting legislation to respond to all these issues that Minnesotans are asking us to address, but I also want to hear directly from you on your priorities.  Please share your thoughts using this SurveyMonkey link or by clicking on the image below.