Dear John,

Last weekend, Minnesota witnessed Kristi Noem’s ICE commit another senseless murder. On Saturday, Alex Pretti was gunned down after exercising his First and Second Amendment rights and trying to protect a fellow protester.

There are simply no words for how wrong and horrific this was.

My heart breaks for Alex’s friends, family and loved ones. They have asked elected officials like me to uplift the man he was – and I’d like to honor that.

Alex Pretti should be alive today.

He was a fellow Minnesotan, a son, a friend, a mentor, a neighbor and an ICU nurse who took care of our nation’s veterans in their final days. He loved the outdoors, singing and dancing onstage and exploring the beauty of our state on his bicycle. He was a good friend who made it a priority to be kind to everyone.

He dedicated his life to helping others. When he saw federal agents attacking a woman on the street – he jumped in to help her. As shared by his friend and colleague at a memorial, his last words were “are you okay?” Even in his final moments on earth, he wanted to help someone. He died doing the right thing. He died looking out for his neighbor.

His death was unnecessary, heartbreaking and infuriating. Those same ICE agents wore masks and fled the scene shortly after his death. His family is left without answers about who took their son’s life and Minnesota is left mourning yet another innocent soul.

Minnesota has had enough. America has had enough. This Administration cannot be allowed to continue the ICE tactics on display here in Minnesota. Last week, I voted against funding Kristi Noem’s DHS. And I have urged my colleagues to do the same. Enough is enough.

Over the past month, my office has received thousands of messages from folks on the ground asking me to stand up for our immigrant communities and for Minnesotans who are just looking out for their neighbors. And every day, it's those messages I have in mind when I am working to represent you in Congress. Rest assured, I will continue to fight back against this Administration and dismantle the version of DHS making our communities less safe at every turn.

Until next time,
 

Angie Craig

Member of Congress