No More ICE

The United States is trying to survive two ice storms this week.

A major winter storm moved through much of the country, leaving behind heavy snow and ice from Arizona to Maine. Arctic temperatures settled in behind the front, sending thermometers near or below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Millions remained in their houses as outside temperatures plummeted.  

While Mother Nature wreaked havoc, another ice storm continued its violent attempt to destroy democracy. Over the last two weeks in Minneapolis, Minnesota, two citizens have been killed by federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).  

Renee Good, a mother of two, was killed while moving her car. Her last words were captured on video, directed at a federal officer, “I’m not mad at you, dude.”

Days later, federal agents clashed with citizens monitoring their movements. After ICE agents pushed a woman to the ground, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse at the local VA hospital, attempted to assist her, placing himself between the woman and the agents. Several agents then jumped on Pretti, trying to detain him.  

As they brought him to the ground, an ICE officer noticed Pretti was carrying a handgun (legally, by the way). The officer removed the firearm from Pretti, as “gun” was shouted by an agent. At that moment, ICE agents opened fire, shooting Pretti in the back twice. Lying on the ground motionless, two of the officers continued firing a total of eight shots into Pretti.

After the shooting stopped, Pretti lay dead in the street, and America began to wake up.

Let me be crystal clear: As a person of faith committed to peace and justice, I believe the U.S. Congress should eliminate the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  

In other words, “No More ICE.”   

ICE was created in 2003 by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, an overreach by Republicans and Democrats in reaction to the events of September 11, 2001. Decisions made out of fear often lead to a decrease in democratic values and the oppression of underrepresented communities. 

The U.S. Congress is scheduled to vote this week on a new funding bill to avoid a government shutdown (UPDATE: Spending Bill was blocked 1/29/2026) . Some lawmakers, after the Good and Pretti killings, are demanding that the bill include guardrails on the Department of Homeland Security’s immigration enforcement.  

Again, for me, that is not enough. The time has long passed to eliminate ICE altogether.  

Congress could address immigration issues directly, but that would mean Republicans and Democrats working together and compromising for the greater good of the country. Unfortunately, the radical partisanship across the country right now is a barrier to producing anything truly meaningful.  

My faith teaches me that immigrants are to be welcomed and treated humanely. The three Abrahamic faiths were all founded by immigrants (Genesis). 

When Abram and Sarai entered the “Holy Land,” they did so as strangers and immigrants. The indigenous people of the land allowed them to flourish. It was only later in the overarching narrative that Yahweh’s words to Abram were turned into a tool for invasion.  

The great sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was not homosexual lust, but inhospitality to strangers (gang rape and murder, to be precise). Woe to those who do not heed this warning. When people are inhospitable to strangers (in most cases, migrants), divine retribution often follows.  

For Christians, we follow a man who was, at one time, a migrant himself. As a toddler, Mary and Joseph entered Egypt as political refugees. Jesus grew up knowing his story and the importance of treating migrants with respect, dignity, and kindness.  

For what seems like the thousandth time, Jesus spoke boldly on welcoming the stranger in Matthew 25. In one of his most famous parables, Jesus taught that those who want to enter the kingdom of God would do well to heed his words.  

However, Jesus also knew followers would forget the voice of strangers: “But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice” (John 10:5). Again, fear leads to death and destruction.

As Congress gathers this week, it’s time for people of good faith to demand their elected officials find a better solution than ICE’s violent and deadly tactics.  

The United States of America was created by immigrants for immigrants. The Indigenous people of North America acted more like Jesus than those landing on their shores.  

For example, generosity (Wacantognaka) is one of the four central values for the Lokata people. Lakota believe, “A Lakota person is looked up to not only for his or her ability to provide food, clothing, and shelter but also for the ability to give generously and not count the cost.”

Moreso for them, “It is better to give a lot than to have a lot. To be called ‘stingy’ is the worst insult.”

If America truly wants to be great, then we need less ICE and more warm generosity and hospitality to strangers. The murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of ICE remind us that fear leads to destruction.

We need a more hopeful and peaceful way forward. Just maybe, we should start listening to Jesus and Indigenous wisdom.