Beloved,
Once again, we are confronted with a devastating truth: another person, Alex Pretti, is dead after being shot by immigration officers in Minnesota. And once again, the public is being asked to accept official narratives that do not match what people can see with their own eyes.
The use of force that took Alex Pretti’s life isn’t an isolated incident but part of a growing and alarming pattern of violence by immigration enforcement that treats human beings as threats instead of neighbors.
As people of faith, we reject the idea that lethal force is an acceptable response to nonviolent presence, protest, or community resistance. We reject the criminalization of people who show up to bear witness. And we reject a system where federal agents escalate situations and then rewrite the story after blood has been spilled.
Every major faith tradition teaches that life is sacred. That means no agency, no badge, and no talking point can justify the taking of a life when de-escalation and restraint are possible. Enforcement without humanity is not justice. Power without accountability is not safety.
These violent actions are spreading fear across U.S. communities and beyond. Families are watching this unfold and asking a simple question: if this can happen here, who is next? That fear is not abstract. It is lived every day by people who already carry the weight of surveillance, raids, and separation.
Congress cannot ignore its responsibility in this moment. Lawmakers continue to fund and expand an agency that repeatedly uses violence against civilians and nonviolent protestors, with devastating consequences. Continuing to bankroll this harm is a choice, and it is one that contradicts the values of dignity, safety, and justice that our nation claims to uphold. Congress must stop funding violence and start investing in policies that protect human life.
POWER Interfaith calls for an immediate end to violent federal operations and the targeting of nonviolent community members and protestors. We call for policies that prioritize human dignity over intimidation and control. And we call on leaders at every level to stop defending violence and start protecting life.
To the loved ones of Alex Pretti: we grieve with you. Your loss matters. Alex’s life mattered.
May Alex Pretti’s memory be a blessing.
May grieving communities find strength.
And may justice be shaped by compassion, not force.
In solidarity,
Rev. Dr. Gregory Edwards
Executive Director
POWER Interfaith
