WASHINGTON, DC — The League of Women Voters of the United States issued the following statement in response to the continued escalation of federal military activity in Minnesota from federal immigration officials: 

“The League of Women Voters condemns the escalating actions by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that put people at risk, deny individuals their constitutional rights, and undermine the democratic values meant to protect us all. 

“We are horrified by federal immigration enforcement operations that deliberately infringe upon First Amendment rights to assemble and dissent. The use of intimidation, surveillance, and deadly force against lawful protestors is not public safety—it is repression. The use of lethal force against people exercising their constitutional rights is unacceptable and must be fully investigated. These fatalities, followed by false narratives designed to obscure the truth and impede oversight, represent a historic abuse of power we’ve never seen as a country. Democracy cannot endure when its government uses violence to silence dissent and evade accountability. 

“The League of Women Voters will continue to organize, speak out, and act to ensure no agency is above the law. We call on Congress to investigate these actions and require accountability measures on the Department of Homeland Security. ICE and other federal immigration officials must cooperate with the appropriate level of law enforcement when civilians are hurt or killed and face accountability when they fail to comply. The League will continue to mount a unified response that defends constitutional rights, protects civic participation, and demands accountability for abuses of power. 

“We will continue our partnership with LULAC, Common Cause, and additional partners to hold ICE accountable and amplify our concerns on its lack of transparency, accountability, and constitutional compliance. 

“The League of Women Voters reaffirms that the rights outlined in the Constitution belong to all people, without exception. We will not accept policies or practices that suppress civic participation, weaponize enforcement, or undermine fundamental rights and human dignity.”