A vigil near the Northwest ICE Detention Center in Tacoma on Friday honored the memory of those killed by federal agents and those who died while in immigration custody, drawing Washington Congresswoman Emily Randall and immigrant rights advocates.
The event followed the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal agents in Minneapolis last month. Randall attended alongside nonprofit OneAmerica, other immigrant rights advocates, local elected officials, and community members. She shared a message with the crowd about unity and solidarity. “It is sometimes hard to hold onto that feeling at a time when we are so angry and terrified and when the world feels so hard,” she said.
In addition to Good and Pretti, organizers said the vigil honored the lives of those who died while in ICE custody. According to a letter written by members of the House Committee on Homeland Security, 53 people have died in ICE or Border Protection custody since Secretary Kristi Noem took the helm of the Department of Homeland Security.
For some, that fact leaves them feeling overwhelmed with emotion. “It makes me sad,” Dianne Niemann said. “I think it’s important to grieve together.” Other Washington residents said they feel called to action and hope demonstrations like Friday’s vigil will help push for change. “Things are getting so terrible in this country that we all have to take a stand and defend our neighbors,” Paul Barry said.
Niemann carried a homemade sign with the message “love thy neighbor” scribbled across it in red ink. She said her sign simply meant to love one another. “It’s a difficult time for all of us to try to get to that stage where it’s love that you put forth and not anger, and oh my goodness, not hate.”
Randall voted against the continuing resolution that would fund DHS until Feb. 13, alongside Washington Reps. DelBene, Jayapal, Smith, and Strickland. Five Washington representatives supported the bill, including Reps. Gluesenkamp Perez, Larsen, Schrier, Baumgartner, and Newhouse. The vigil reflects growing concerns in Washington about federal immigration enforcement practices and accountability for deaths occurring in custody or during enforcement operations.
