In response to the deadly Jan. 7 ICE-related shooting in Minneapolis, Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis is urging all people to pray for the victim, her family, and the community.
The archbishop’s statement, released hours after the deadly incident, also underscored the need for individuals, institutions, media, and government to strive to remedy the contentious political climate.
“We continue to be at a time in this country when we need to lower the temperature of rhetoric, stop fear-filled speculation and start seeing all people as created in the image and likeness of God,” Archbishop Hebda said. “That is as true for our immigrant sisters and brothers as it is for our elected officials and those who are responsible for enforcing our laws.”
“I echo today the repeated call of the U.S. Catholic bishops that we come together as a nation and pass meaningful immigration reform that does justice to all parties,” he continued. “The longer we refuse to grapple with this issue in the political arena, the more divisive and violent it becomes. It is only by working together – with God’s help – that we will have peace in our communities, state and world.”
During an ICE enforcement operation in Minneapolis, an ICE agent shot a 37-year-old woman identified by her mother as Renee Nicole Good, according to The Minneapolis Star Tribune. Good was driving a maroon Honda SUV in what appears to be an attempt to flee and struck the agent, who then fired three shots, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. He was treated at a local hospital and later released.
CatholicVote reported that officials from the Trump administration claimed that the officer acted in self-defense, with DHS saying in a statement that the woman had attempted to run over the officers. Others have disputed this claim and criticized the officer for using lethal force. Noem said the FBI is investigating.