JCPA Statement on Growing Militarization of Federal Immigration Enforcement

Last week’s killing of Renee Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis and the shooting by CBP agents in Portland are devastating evidence of the chaos and danger created by increasingly militarized immigration enforcement in our communities. Now, the Trump administration’s decision to send 1,000 additional ICE agents to conduct raids in Minneapolis — amid unrest created by the administration’s own aggressive, militarized presence — only underscores the fact that further escalation and chaos are the goal.

Across the country, aggressive federal tactics — from unlawfully deploying the National Guard exclusively in Democratic-led cities, to using military-style force against communities justified by xenophobic, racist, and antisemitic “invasion” and “replacement” lies — have targeted immigrants, protesters, and communities of color, escalated fear and violence, and undermined the rule of law and our democracy instead of advancing real safety.

We know where the normalization of such extremism and violence leads – from Charlottesville and the broader cycle of extremism that followed, to the January 6th insurrection and rising political and hate-fueled violence. When our government gives license to extremism and violence, it makes all of us less safe.

Congress must act immediately to rein in this misuse of force and reaffirm that the role of our military and law enforcement is to protect our communities, not advance extreme political agendas. Our Jewish values compel us to speak out against such injustice, and JCPA will continue to work with our community partners across the country to protect and advance a truly inclusive democratic society in which all of us are safe and free.