Recently, federal immigration enforcement officers under the Trump administration shot and killed two citizens in Minnesota, heightening local tensions.
On January 29, a reporter interviewed a Chinese student, Xiao Li (pseudonym), at the University of Minnesota, who expressed that the current situation is frightening for everyone. The enforcement methods of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are perceived as extremely aggressive, often involving direct arrests, particularly targeting people of color, frequently without presenting credentials or allowing for dialogue.
At a rally held outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in Washington, D.C., on January 24 local time, mourners paid tribute to Alex Jeffrey Prettimer, a U.S. citizen shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.
Xiao Li also shared a real-life incident involving a fellow Asian American student, who had no criminal record and was not involved in protests. This student was stopped, arrested, and taken away while driving on the highway to school. During the arrest, the student was not even given a chance to explain and was subsequently detained for a full eight hours.
Xiao Li stated that they now try to minimize going out, and when they do, they keep their passport on them at all times. The overall atmosphere feels palpably oppressive, and there is uncertainty about when these various acts of aggression will cease.
Comments