Faith leaders are called to be society’s moral compass, to call out the evils that harm our neighbors. We are in a moment of truth, as Congress decides whether to increase funding to ICE at a time when unnamed federal officials are grabbing innocent people off the streets in our cities. Our voices are powerful, and now is the time to speak out together to let Congress know that this violence is immoral and unjust.

In Minneapolis, we’ve seen the consequences of these mass deportation policies being recklessly carried out by ICE. The murder of Renee Nicole Good and the subsequent escalation by ICE officers in the immediate aftermath demand that we raise our voices. We call for an end to the occupation in Minneapolis, that ICE officers are held accountable for their actions in the lead-up, shooting, and aftermath as they denied Renee Nicole Good medical attention, and that everyone in the Administration who is responsible for deploying these armed agents into our streets is held accountable as well.

The people of Minneapolis have been unified and brave in protecting their neighbors as they’ve been physically assaulted with tear gas and flash bangs by ICE officers. The local leadership of Minneapolis has been clear-eyed in describing the actions of federal officers there as chaotic and dangerous. It is time for the federal government to heed the demands of the people of Minneapolis and end the occupation of the city by ICE agents.

Instead of targeting our neighbors, we should end the occupation and hold everyone accountable for this assault on our communities!