Democratic Colorado State Representative Yara Zokaie and Democratic State Sen. Julie Gonzales of Colorado posted videos to social media on Sunday, urging viewers to support efforts to impede United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
Riots broke out in Minneapolis on Saturday after a Border Patrol agent fatally shot a man during a scuffle as ICE attempted to arrest an illegal immigrant in what the Department of Homeland Security described as a “targeted” operation. Zokaie declared that 37-year-old Alex Pretti was “murdered” in a post on Instagram in which she threatened repercussions for ICE agents, including disqualification from working for state agencies, prior to urging support for so-called “rapid response” networks.
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“Know your rights. Know an ICE agent cannot enter your home without a judicial warrant, which is a warrant signed by a judge,” Zokaie claimed. “And know that we have a rapid response network. If you see ICE activity, the phone number is in the caption of this video and you can call and report what you’re seeing.”
Democratic Colorado State Sen. Julie Gonzales also urged people to join the so-called “rapid response” networks, making a statement with “ABOLISH ICE” displayer on the video.
“If you haven’t already, sign up and attend a know your rights training so that you are prepared on how to navigate interactions with ICE,” Gonzales said in her post. “Second, plug the Colorado Rapid Response Network into your phone and save it. If you see suspicious activity, call the hotline at 844-864-8341. Trained volunteers will help document and confirm what’s going on. Colorado is home to a powerful movement that’s been organizing to defend and advance immigrant rights for years.”
Should a rapid response network hinder ICE operations?View this post on Instagram
A “rapid response” network in Minnesota is tracking vehicles used by ICE, broadcasting their locations and summoning backup to confront the agents, often leading to assaults and physical altercations, Fox News Digital reported. Independent journalist Cam Higby obtained a copy of the manual used by a “rapid response” network, posting it on X.
The manual posted by Higby instructs members of the “rapid response” network to not specifically mention ICE, but to claim that “armed men” were “getting ready to hurt or attack someone” or that a kidnapping is in progress.
The fatal shootings of Pretti and Renee Nicole Good occurred during confrontations involving “rapid-response” to ICE operations seeking to apprehend illegal immigrants with criminal records. Zokaie said legislation targeting ICE agents would be introduced in the Colorado state legislature.
“Fascist thugs do not get to fall back into working for our law enforcement after we abolish ICE, which ultimately is what we have to do, because there is no reforming this,” Zokaie said.
Since the Trump administration took office and began a campaign of immigration enforcement, attack on ICE agents have skyrocketed by 1,300%, according to a Jan. 8 release by the Department of Homeland Security, with vehicular assaults up 3,200% and death threats targeting agents rising by 8,000%.
Reports published by City Journal in November about significant welfare fraud in Minnesota, primarily carried out by Somalis, prompted President Donald Trump to order federal agencies to surge resources into the state. The fraud scandal entered the national discussion after independent journalist Nick Shirley posted a 42-minute video on Dec. 26, where he investigated so-called “day care centers” run by Somalis.
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, who is running to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in the heavily Democratic state, pledged to take similar punitive measures to what Zokaie seeks against people working for ICE if elected. Swalwell said he would deny ICE agents driver’s licenses and vowed to make previous employment with ICE a disqualification for state government employment.
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