To the editor:

According to a recent Politico article, the state of “Minnesota is the eye of the Trump storm.” This is nothing new, as he has been targeting Minnesota since the 2000 election in which he continues to make false allegations of election fraud and non-citizen voting. Trump has recently singled out Gov. (Tim) Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, attacking them repeatedly. We’ve all heard the insults Trump has heaped on these two leaders as he sends thousands of masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to this state to allegedly weed out the “worst of the worst illegal immigrants.”

ICE has now been deployed to several U.S. cities to include Minneapolis: targeting, among other immigrants, the “Somali gangs.” Representative Brad Finstad has also rubber-stamped Trumps actions, blaming the Biden Administration for the mess this Administration created: A vile tactic utilized by those GOP who are unwilling to take responsibility for their behavior. We’ve seen with our own eyes and read media accounts of how the ICE agents callous; violent behavior has created fear for families across this state. People are afraid to leave their homes, go to work, or attend school. Children have been separated from their families.

The most horrific atrocities occurred when ICE agents callously shot and killed Renee Goode, and most recently Alex Pretti. In response, ICE officers fled, and Secretary Noem and Trump immediately defended these killings falsely claiming the agents were under attack by “domestic terrorists.” Multiple cameras were recording these events and the truth is now starting to come out as the Administration back-pedals. They have recently had “discussions” regarding ICE presence with Gov. Walz and Mayor Frey. Not holding my breath. And too little, way too late for the victims’ families, legal immigrants and citizens across the state. This operation has been an unabashed disaster – the likes of which we have not seen in recent history.

As Mayor Frey stated so eloquently: “ICE, get the f… out of Minneapolis.” President Trump: Don’t mess with Minnesota! Where’s the Epstein Files!?

Pat Booker,

New Ulm