01/25/2026
I want to say this carefully, thoughtfully, and honestly — because this moment deserves that.
Immigration is a real issue in this country and it does need to be addressed.
Borders matter. Systems matter. Safety matters.
But the way immigration enforcement is being handled right now is failing us — and it is costing lives, inciting fear, reinforcing racism ,stereotyping, and eroding trust in our institutions.
What makes this moment especially dangerous is not only the violence itself, but how leaders are responding to it.
We are seeing public statements made before facts are verified, narratives that contradict video evidence, and then silence — no meaningful correction, no walking it back, no accountability.
History shows us that when leaders abandon truth, harm accelerates.
In Minneapolis, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen, ICU nurse, and lawful gun owner, was shot and killed by federal immigration agents during an enforcement operation.
Multiple videos show Alex doing something profoundly human: Helping.
He was directing traffic, checking on others, and recording events with his phone — not threatening anyone.
Alex was exercising his constitutional rights:
• First Amendment — the right to be present at a protest and to document government activity
• Second Amendment — lawful possession of a firearm (which video evidence shows was removed before shots were fired)
• Fourth Amendment — the right to be free from unreasonable force
• Fourteenth Amendment — equal protection under the law
He was not hiding. He was not fleeing. He was not attacking.
He was showing up for his community, the same way he showed up for patients in the ICU.
That matters.
How we remember people matters.
Around the same time, the image of a 5-year-old child taken into custody during an immigration action circulated widely. Whatever one believes about immigration policy, we should be able to agree on this:
Children absorbing enforcement trauma is not safety. It is harm — and the psychological impact can last a lifetime.
This is where history asks something of us.
History does not begin with atrocities.
It begins with language.
With fear replacing facts.
With people being labeled threats instead of humans.
With leaders discouraging questions rather than welcoming accountability.
Before the Holocaust, violence was preceded by rhetoric — by normalization, by “necessary” actions that went unchecked.
Recognizing these patterns is not exaggeration. It is prevention.
We must learn to identify dangerous rhetoric:
• Are claims being verified before being repeated?
• Are leaders correcting themselves when evidence changes?
• Are entire groups being blamed for complex issues?
• Is fear being used to justify force?
These are not political questions.
They are ethical and civic responsibilities.
As a brown-skinned American, this moment feels deeply personal. It carries the familiar fear of knowing that citizenship does not always protect you — that carrying a birth certificate or Social Security card can feel necessary even when it shouldn’t be. That fear lives in the body.
If you are stopped and asked for ID, safety matters most:
• Stay calm and respectful
• Provide identification if asked
• If your ID is ignored or dismissed, do not physically resist
• If safe, document the interaction and note names or badge numbers
• Seek legal guidance afterward
Compliance in the moment can coexist with accountability later. Survival comes first.
Mental Health Matters Here
As a clinician, I want to name this plainly: In moments like this increased anxiety, hypervigilance, anger, grief, and trauma responses, especially for immigrants, families of color, and children are valid and I see you. I hear you. I understand you.
If this feels heavy, that is not weakness.
That is your nervous system responding to threat.
Supportive ways to care for yourself:
• Talk openly about what you’re feeling
• Limit constant exposure to distressing news
• Ground your body through breath, movement, and routine
• Seek professional support when fear or anger feels overwhelming
Caring for mental health is not disengagement. It is how we remain clear-minded, compassionate, and capable of change.
We can hold complexity.
We can address immigration better — with training, transparency, and humanity.
We can demand enforcement that is lawful without being violent or dehumanizing.
We can insist leaders tell the truth — and correct themselves when they are wrong.
Finding your voice doesn’t require shouting. Sometimes it sounds like asking better questions. Sometimes it sounds like refusing to accept harm as normal. Sometimes it sounds like calmly saying:
This is wrong — and we can do better.
For thoughtful context and reflection, I encourage you to watch this news clip with critical thinking (Warning it is graphic):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKmCifYp48A
History is shaped by ordinary people who choose truth over fear and humanity over silence.
This is one of those moments.
🤍
