By State Rep. Mark Sylvia
What has occurred in Minneapolis weighs heavily on all of us. Moments like this force us to reflect on what it truly means to be an American — on our freedom, our liberty, and the rights guaranteed to us under the Constitution. I, like many of you, have watched the videos. Those are very hard images to understand as human beings, and as American citizens.
Although we are thousands of miles away, we are not removed from the impact of these violent actions. Regardless of political affiliation, we feel the fear, anxiety, anger, and sense of hopelessness being experienced by the people of Minneapolis. These emotions transcend geography and ideology.
The issue of immigration, in particular, has been deeply politicized for years and increasingly weaponized. As a result, our nation is being pulled apart, and the very principles that define us as Americans — freedom, liberty, and equality — are at risk.
Our system of laws exists to protect not only our lives, but also our freedoms and civil rights. These are not competing ideals. How we treat people in the most difficult circumstances — and how our government responds when its own actions are called into question — matters deeply. Truth, transparency, and accountability must always prevail.
Community leaders and local law enforcement are now faced with navigating highly charged situations that arise not from community-rooted policing strategies, but from a surge of federal action whose approach and justification remain deeply contested.
No matter one’s views of the federal government or political party, two human beings — two American citizens — have lost their lives. No one should feel anything but sorrow over that fact. In this and all such incidents, the public deserves a full, honest, and truly independent investigation especially in light of the fact that federal Homeland Security and ICE officials have publicly prejudged these incidents.
The federal government must also act immediately to de-escalate the situation. The State of Minnesota, along with local leaders — and local law enforcement should be empowered with the authority, responsibility, and support necessary to protect their communities. The escalation of ICE and Border Patrol resources should come to an end.
Congress must also fulfill its constitutional responsibility. Oversight hearings should be held not only on what has occurred in Minneapolis, but on similar actions across the country. Congress must demand accountability, insist on immediate adherence to the Constitution, and reject the hyper-partisanship that has prevented meaningful progress.
We must work together — at the federal, state, and local levels — to find a path forward that ends the violence, restores trust and community, protects civil liberties, and ensures that government action upholds the safety and dignity of all people.
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