Statement from Terri Pickens on ICE Killing American Citizen

In broad daylight in Minneapolis, an American woman was shot and killed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. I offer my condolences to the family and community members who have suffered this loss. However, this tragedy is compounded by the fact that ICE leaders are contradicting video evidence already available to the public. Our government is telling us, “don’t believe your lying eyes.”

I recall George Orwell’s warning (“1984”) about malignant government power: “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” And so it has come to 2026.

Our democracy is under assault. Trump’s regime is becoming more brutal as his popularity wanes. Dissent used to be patriotic; now it is dangerous. 

What happened in Minnesota should chill everyone living in Idaho because our governor has already shown that he is too scared or too complicit to stand up to the Trump machine.

We all need to understand this truth: partnerships that empower ICE to act with deadly force and near-zero accountability make us less safe and less free. Gov. Brad Little has “proudly” welcomed federal ICE agents. He repeats ICE’s lies that the people they imprison are all “dangerous” criminals. He directs the Idaho State Police to assist with ICE raids on community events. Last summer, federal ICE agents arrested people, including children, under threat of lethal force, for watching a horse race. Those people were only freed when the federal agents decided to free them. 

I say that as long as ICE is allowed to run roughshod over Minnesota or Idaho or any other state, Americans are no longer free. 

I am not going to call on Gov. Little to do or say anything about this. Little has picked Trump’s side. I am calling on everyone else, all Idahoans, to stand up and to speak up. We should demand a full and transparent investigation of the killing in Minnesota.

They’ve taken our liberties and now they’re taking our lives. They have made elections a matter of life or death.