What happened in Minneapolis underscores the stakes for our communities.
- IFT
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
Yesterday in Minnesota, federal immigration agents killed Renee Nicole Good. That horrifying reality should stop us all in our tracks. It’s a devastating reminder of what happens when federal immigration enforcement is allowed to escalate without oversight, accountability, or restraint, and when state leaders fail to stand up to protect our communities.
This moment demands vigilance, unity, and action. The threat is real, and growing.
With reports suggesting that federal agents are back in Illinois for another round of raids, our communities must be prepared. Last fall, we witnessed federal agents arrest U.S. citizens, terrorize schools, daycares, and school drop off lines, and even kill a man in Franklin Park. Yesterday’s murder of Renee Nicole Good by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis is another reminder of exactly how dangerous these operations are under Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
Illinois must never be a testing ground for this kind of federal violence. But unless Governor Pritzker acts now, that’s exactly what we’ll continue to be. We need bold and unyielding leadership that goes beyond condemning these actions after the fact. We need actions that prevent these raids from happening in the first place, that invest in care, not criminalization, and that protect every community, especially those targeted by Trump and his federal agents.
Bovino was responsible for Midway Blitz, a dangerous federal Border Patrol operation - operating hundreds of miles from any international border - that empowered federal officers to use excessive force on our neighbors, teargas children on Halloween, raid the homes of both immigrants and non-immigrants alike, and sow chaos and fear in our communities. His command has drawn court reprimands. Even so, we can expect him back in the Chicago metropolitan area, potentially with larger deployments of federal officers.
We must keep each other safe.
We know that moments like this create fear and uncertainty for immigrant families and all of us who care about safety and civil liberties in our neighborhoods. We also know that these federal actions are actively harming and traumatizing our students. To support our neighbors, we’re offering resources and training opportunities for IFT members:
Our Immigrant Resource Page offers links to support hotlines, know your rights fliers, legal resources, and more.
If you would like immigrant rights training in your area, fill out this request form so that your union can help.
AFT offers a wide selection of resources for educators, higher education, public employees, and families, including toolkits, classroom resources, and emergency planning guides.
Tell Governor Pritzker: it’s time to Trump-proof Illinois with more action, and less words. That means funding public institutions to withstand federal defunding threats and enacting real sanctuary policies that block raids and invest in immigrant justice.
We all have a role in keeping our schools and communities safe, informed, and united. If you have any questions, please contact your Field Service Director or Local President.
In solidarity,
Stacy Davis-Gates, IFT President
Cyndi Oberle-Dahm, IFT Executive Vice President
Pankaj Sharma, IFT Secretary-Treasurer
John Miller, IFT Membership Secretary
