NEW YORK – Caribbean-American New York State Assemblyman Brian Cunningham has issued a forceful condemnation following the second fatal shooting involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis within a fortnight. The incident, which resulted in the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti during a public demonstration against ICE’s immigration tactics, has ignited profound concern over the agency’s operational conduct.
Cunningham, a representative of Brooklyn’s 43rd Assembly District and son of Jamaican immigrants, characterized the event as a national wake-up call. “News emerging from Minneapolis this week should halt every American in their tracks,” he stated in an interview with the Caribbean Media Corporation. He emphasized that the shooting of Pretti, an American citizen, occurred amidst escalating tensions surrounding federal immigration operations, closely following another ICE-related fatality involving Renee Good in the same city.
The assemblyman argued that lethal force must not become standardized within immigration enforcement frameworks, irrespective of political viewpoints. He articulated grave concerns about democratic integrity, noting that communities experiencing federal presence as occupation rather than protection represent a critical test for governance.
Cunningham highlighted the tangible repercussions beyond immigrant communities, asserting that unregulated federal enforcement creates societal ripple effects. “When immigration operations operate without robust oversight, immigrant populations bear the initial impact, but the ramifications ultimately extend to all citizens,” he explained. The climate of fear alters fundamental behaviors—deterring school attendance, discouraging hospital visits, and inhibiting crime reporting—which ultimately compromises public safety for all residents.
As co-sponsor of the New York for All Act, Cunningham advocates for legislative measures restricting state and local agencies from indiscriminate immigration status inquiries and information sharing with federal authorities. He contends that minimizing such collaborations is essential to prevent abuses and maintain community trust in public institutions. The assemblyman concluded by framing the Minneapolis shootings as symptomatic of broader national challenges rather than isolated state-specific incidents.