At the Invitation of Omar, Pressley Met with Organizers and Community Members Impacted by Violence Perpetrated by ICE

Photos (Dropbox) | Press Conference (YouTube)

MINNEAPOLIS – Last week, at the invitation of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) went to Minneapolis to meet with organizers and community members impacted by ICE’s violent operation in Minnesota, where they have murdered bystanders, terrorized schools and small businesses, and abducted children and parents.

“I went to Minnesota to join my sister-in-service, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, to meet with community members, help my movement family process their grief, and listen and learn from them,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “Through our visits, it’s clear to me that the people of Minnesota—much like the people of Massachusetts—stand up for their neighbors. Whether organizing their blocks, protecting families at school drop off, or leading mutual aid drives, Minnesotans are showing us the blueprint for community response and proving what is possible when we unite for good. It was an honor to support Rep. Omar and her community—and I am fortified in our fight to resist and reject the cruelty of ICE and abolish this rogue agency once and for all.”

Last week, the lawmakers met with local businesses providing essential learning services, child and elder support, and culturally conscious food options that are seeing a lack in engagement from community members attributed to fear of going to work, school, shopping, and more. They also toured Karmel Mall, a hub holding over 100 small businesses and community organizations, many of which have reported a significant decline in business since Trump’s Operation Metro Surge began.

Rep. Pressley hosted a press conference with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05) in which she condemned the violence perpetrated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and renewed her calls to abolish ICE, impeach Kristi Noem, and end qualified immunity for ICE agents and other federal law enforcement. The presser followed the horrific ICE murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and comes as the Senate takes up the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, including $28 billion for ICE, which the Congresswoman voted against in the House.

Additionally, the lawmakers met with parents and neighbors protecting families and students at school drop-off, visited a church and coffee shop providing mutual aid packages, and engaged with Black leaders violently targeted by ICE. Many community members expressed that they are traumatized by and living in fear of ICE assaults, and turning to their community for support has provided essential solace and protection.

This month, following the ICE murder of Renee Good, Congresswoman Pressley and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Qualified Immunity Abolition Act of 2026, which builds on the lawmakers’ prior work by granting victims the right to sue federal law enforcement officers—not just state and local—for civil rights violations and abolishing the defense of qualified immunity in these suits. The expanded legislation would help deliver accountability for families abused by law enforcement, including ICE agents.

Congresswoman Pressley delivered a floor speech on the need to end qualified immunity for federal law enforcement, including immigration officers. Watch the floor speech here.

Earlier this month, Congresswoman Pressley condemned the ICE murder of Renee Good in Minnesota and motioned to subpoena all records and footage related to the shooting, but Republicans obstructed it. Footage of Congresswoman Pressley’s motion to subpoena is here.

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