Minneapolis Council Member Vows to Resist ICE Amid Community Trauma
Minneapolis city council member Aisha Chughtai has declared that her community's spirit remains unbroken despite weeks of federal immigration raids and aggression. Representing the district where 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot by federal agents on Saturday, Chughtai described the profound impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations on south Minneapolis.
Community Under Siege
Chughtai recounted waking to calls about the shooting just four blocks from her home, arriving as an ambulance transported Pretti away. She witnessed dozens of federal agents deploying chemicals into crowds, with teargas filling nearby apartment buildings and businesses in one of the city's densest areas. Agents tackled someone on the sidewalk and made violent arrests, while others prevented her from escaping teargas clouds with drawn weapons.
"There have been three homicides in Minneapolis, and two of them have been perpetrated by ICE," Chughtai stated. "The number one deadly killer of Minneapolitans right now is ICE." This marks the second killing of a Minneapolis resident by federal agents on the city's southside this year.
Daily Fear and Resistance
For over a month, federal agents have roamed south Minneapolis daily, attempting to detain immigrants while arresting or deploying chemicals against those who intervene. "There's so much fear and grief, despair, anger, pain in our community," Chughtai explained. "So many folks are afraid of being in their homes, of leaving their homes, because they don't know if that will be the last time they ever see their loved ones."
Despite this, Minneapolis residents continue resisting. "Our spirit can't be broken here," Chughtai affirmed. "We're going to continue to show up for our neighbors." The area represents Minnesota's largest immigrant community, now facing what she describes as devastating destruction.
Political Demands and Community Action
As a local official, Chughtai is pushing for accountability regarding the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. She and fellow council members are calling on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to declare a state of emergency and implement an eviction moratorium. With approximately 80% of her district's residents being renters, and most Minneapolis residents renting, she emphasizes doing "every single thing we can to keep people safe in their homes and unified with their families."
Chughtai urges Minneapolis residents to:
- Participate in neighborhood rapid response networks
- Carry whistles and train as legal observers
- Amplify ground realities and counter federal narratives
- Support local organizations through donations
"The only thing that's within our control as individuals right now is that we continue to show up, to resist, to be in the streets, to be in our neighborhoods," she asserted. "We have to keep pushing until we get our city back, our state back."
Long-Term Trauma and Recovery
Even if ICE withdraws immediately, the trauma from this period will linger. Residents, including children, have witnessed deaths, violence, and family separations. "I don't think that we can even begin to rebuild or recover from this grief and trauma that we've been experiencing now for two months until these people leave our state," Chughtai concluded.
The Trump administration shows no signs of pulling forces from Minnesota, leaving Minneapolis residents to navigate fear while maintaining resistance. Chughtai's message remains clear: the community demands ICE's departure to begin healing from this profound crisis.
