Hunter
01/27/26
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a brief along with 20 other Republican attorneys general urging federal judges not to restrain ICE agents tactics against protesters and observers.
The Des Moines Register reports the friend-of-the-court brief was filed on January 21st, objecting to a federal judge’s order finding that ICE and other federal officials were likely violating Minnesotans’ constitutional rights. The court ordered agents to desist pepper-spraying nonviolent observers and using other controversial tactics.
The report was filed before Saturday’s shooting death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti, a VA nurse who came to the aid of a woman who was pushed to the ground by an ICE agent. A federal appeals court has issued a temporary stay on the lower judge’s decision, allowing ICE to continue its tactics without restrictions.
Observers have accused officials of widespread racial profiling, including of U.S. citizens, illegitimately arresting and using tear gas and other forms of force against nonviolent witnesses and demonstrators, and other abuses. Director of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has categorized the over 3000 arrests by ICE as, quote, “criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis because Tim Walz and Jacob Frey refuse to protect their own people and instead protect criminals.”
In a statement, Bird said she supports the ICE efforts and added that although she is deeply saddened by the loss of human life, she is also saddened by what she said was the violence against law enforcement officers in the line of duty.