We can have both dignity and securityhttps://immigrationforum.org/

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Maintaining Trust and Ensuring AccountabilityGreetings,

Following the tragic deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, the New York Times [link removed] has declared a "national tipping point." Certainly, the outpouring of cries for reforming immigration enforcement tactics and nationwide protests demonstrate that people want change. Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the Forum, said in a statement [link removed], "The administration’s approach has been counterproductive and led to the dangerous conditions we face today." In Washington, legislators of both [link removed] parties are feeling the same way, as they’ve raised concerns with enforcement tactics, and the funding of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the subject of the latest shutdown [link removed].

In the wake of this tragedy, President Trump sent "border czar" Tom Homan to Minnesota to coordinate with local officials and turn the temperature down. Most recently, the administration announced the withdrawal of 700 federal immigration [link removed] agents from the state, even while restating that the president "fully intends to achieve mass deportations during this administration." Homan said that enforcement operations will continue, but with "smarter enforcement, not less enforcement." It is to be determined what that will look like in practice. Still, the continued use of mass deportations [link removed] with visible, militarized immigration enforcement will further damage community-police relations and erode public trust.

Members of the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force [link removed] (LEITF) raised the same concern [link removed] about public trust, emphasizing [link removed] that immigration enforcement is a federal, not a local, responsibility. Since 2015, the LEITF has served as a national resource highlighting the relationship between immigration enforcement, public safety, and government accountability.

Members of the LEITF continue to be cited in multiple media outlets examining local law enforcement responses to federal immigration policies and operational activity. The San Antonio Current [link removed] reported that Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar publicly criticized federal immigration enforcement actions during a community rally. The sheriff raised concerns about the politicization of law enforcement and emphasized the importance of transparency and public trust.

Sheriff Salazar’s concerns are echoed nationwide. Seattle’s Mayor Katie Wilson and Police Chief Shon Barnes have directed [link removed] city officers to investigate, verify, and document federal immigration enforcement activities. These measures are designed to ensure public safety, maintain transparency, and uphold both the dignity of the community members and the security of the city. Similarly, in Pima County, AZ, local officials are considering measures [link removed] requiring law enforcement at every level to wear identification. Pima Sheriff Chris Nanos is in favor of the move because it could help to reestablish community trust. He said, "Trust is built one drop at a time. You lose it in buckets." Together, these examples from LEITF members demonstrate the need for balanced enforcement policies that prioritize public safety while strengthening community trust.

As part of the Forum’s commitment to advancing immigration policies that strengthen national security while maintaining public trust, the Council on National Security and Immigration (CNSI) released a statement [link removed] addressing major concerns regarding current Department of Homeland Security interior enforcement activities. In the statement, the CNSI leaders called for specific changes to maintain trust and ensure accountability within DHS.

As we experience this "national tipping point," we must remember that two things can be true at once: we can support policies that prioritize the national security of the United States, while maintaining due process and dignity for immigrants. When immigration enforcement turns violent and tactics become too far-reaching, they create a culture of instability and fear in our communities. We must promote accountability and reform to correct these actions. Please join me in contacting your members of Congress [link removed] to let them know you would like to see meaningful, bipartisan immigration reform that ensures accountability and public safety.

Stay committed and hopeful,

Andrea

**Andrea Corro**Field and Constituencies Coordinator
Forum

**NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:**

**ASSOCIATED PRESS:**Republican calls are growing for a deeper investigation into the fatal Minneapolis shooting [link removed]

**MPR NEWS:**

****St. Peter police chief intervened and got federal agents to release resident, sources say [link removed]

**RELIGION NEWS SERVICE:**Evangelicals divided over what faith demands as immigration tensions deepen  [link removed]

**POLITICO:**Why Trump’s focus on Harvard’s foreign students matters to other schools [link removed]

**THE HILL:**Senate Republican backs requiring federal immigration officers to wear body cameras [link removed]

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