DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion article. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Tiger’s Eye staff, its adviser, Fremont High School, its teachers or faculty, or the Fremont school district.

America watched in horror as footage of both Renee Good and Alex Pretti being fatally shot by ICE agents spread across social media. No matter how ICE, the Department of Homeland Security or even politicians try to explain these events, I believe ICE’s actions are unjust and undemocratic.

Since the beginning of 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly referred to as ICE, has been involved in increased enforcement activity across the United States, particularly in Minneapolis, where recent fatal shootings have drawn widespread attention and controversy. To many people, including myself, ICE’s actions feel less like law enforcement and more like intimidation directed at the public.

ICE is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security tasked with enforcing immigration laws and removing immigrants who entered the country unlawfully. ICE is supposed to carry out this mission in a lawful manner and with due process. However, advocacy groups, local officials and civil rights organizations argue that some ICE enforcement practices go beyond this mission and raise concerns about civil rights violations and racial profiling, including the use of force and the abuse of civil liberties. Critics say ICE has abused its power with the government’s permission, and that recent incidents show how far that power can go.

On Jan. 7, 2026, 37-year-old Minneapolis resident Renee Good was shot and killed by ICE agents after they attempted to detain her. Medical examiners said Good was shot three times by federal agents. Officials said she attempted to escape by speeding away, while ICE authorities also said Good and several protesters were antagonizing and attacking agents. Still, to many observers, the level of force used raises serious questions.

Just weeks later in Minneapolis, 37-year-old Alex Pretti was fatally shot in public by federal agents after being pinned, beaten and pepper-sprayed by several agents. Pretti was an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital and was known for his enjoyment of the outdoors. Pretti was not an immigrant or a criminal; he was a citizen of the United States who helped others. To me, this suggests ICE is not just targeting undocumented immigrants, but also people who oppose or question them.

After seeing video footage connected to the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, it is impossible for me to view ICE enforcement as just another arm of the federal government. What I saw was not a representation of justice or honor; it looked like oppression. It felt like a violation of the liberty this country was built on. Killing people and separating families under the justification of “deporting criminals” is not what America should represent.

Critics argue ICE has violated the rights of both migrants and U.S. citizens through racial bias, abuse of power and a questionable sense of civic duty. They say agents push through communities and use aggressive tactics to meet enforcement goals, including choking, beating, kicking, pepper-spraying and, in some cases, shooting those who do not comply. In this view, ICE is no longer acting like a typical law enforcement agency, but as a force that relies on fear and control.

Despite the deaths of Pretti and Good, citizens of all races have continued to resist and protest ICE with “ICE OUT” signs. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey publicly told ICE to stay out of the city, reflecting the anger and fear many residents feel. Other public officials and local law enforcement have echoed Frey’s sentiments, saying ICE’s presence is unwelcome.

Despite the protests, there continue to be casualties and allegations of unjust violence involving ICE. Renee Good and Alex Pretti were citizens, not criminals, and, according to supporters, they were not threats. They were killed in broad daylight, and so far there have been few, if any, visible repercussions for the agents involved.

In addition, deaths in detention centers where ICE holds immigrants in custody have been a concern raised by advocacy groups. These facilities are often described as having poor living conditions. Critics argue these centers are inhumane and harmful to the people detained there.

The only way to ensure public safety, in my view, is to abolish ICE and replace it with a more professional, accountable and humane system for enforcing immigration laws.