The Collapse of the Citizen Contract

The Illusion of Safety

Many Americans believe they possess an invisible shield. They believe their skin color and their birth certificate make them untouchable by ICE. The events in Minneapolis have shattered this illusion. Renee Good and Alex Pretti were white. They were American citizens. They had no criminal records. Both are now dead at the hands of federal agents.

The Case of Alex Pretti

Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. He spent his days caring for American veterans. On Saturday, he was acting as a legal observer. He was recording an interaction between federal agents and a bystander. Video evidence shows agents tackling him to the ground. He was holding a phone. He was not brandishing a weapon.

The Department of Homeland Security claimed Pretti was a gunman. They claimed he resisted with a weapon. The video tells a different story. It shows a citizen being crushed and shot by the state while trying to help a neighbor. Pretti had a legal permit to carry a firearm. Having a permit is not a death warrant. In a state with the rule of law, a permit is a contract. The federal government breached that contract.

The Death of Renee Good

Renee Good was killed earlier this month. She was another citizen who believed the system worked for her. Like Pretti, her death was followed by administrative excuses. The DHS attempted to block state investigators from the scene. They ignored search warrants from local judges. This is not law enforcement. This is a federal occupation that views local laws as obstacles.

Your Skin Color Will Not Protect You

Many of us are used to white privilege. We are so used to it that we think we are immune to police shootings. We might empathize with others but don’t think it is a problem we need to fear personally. We assume it only happens to Black or Hispanic people.

That is not true with ICE.

You do not need to be an illegal alien to be shot and killed. You do not even need to look like you could be one. For many, this might be a rude awakening.

The Bottom Line: It’s time to put race, color and citizenship aside. As long as ICE are roaming the streets, none of us are safe.