Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expressed her support for a nationwide anti-ICE protest but confirmed her congressional office will remain open to assist the community.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, has voiced her “full support” for a nationwide anti-ICE protest scheduled for Friday, known as the “National Shutdown.” However, she clarified that her congressional office will not participate in the shutdown.
The protest organizers are advocating for “no school, no work, and no shopping” on Friday, emphasizing that “enough is enough” following recent fatal shootings involving Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. These incidents have occurred amid heightened federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
In a statement on social media, Ocasio-Cortez highlighted the actions of the Twin Cities residents, asserting that their efforts could inspire a broader movement across the country. “To stop ICE’s reign of terror, we need to SHUT IT DOWN,” the organizers stated on their website.
Despite her support for the protest, Ocasio-Cortez explained that her office would remain operational. “Full disclosure — my office handles crucial casework and immigration cases for the community. We will be open tomorrow to continue community support and defend immigrant families,” she posted on Instagram.
Ocasio-Cortez also expressed her backing for national mobilizations, general strikes, and mass movements aimed at addressing immigration issues. The organizers of the shutdown campaign have accused ICE and Border Patrol agents of instilling fear in communities by “going into our neighborhoods to kidnap our neighbors.”
The call for a nationwide shutdown comes in the wake of tragic events in Minneapolis. Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse with the Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents on January 24 while documenting federal immigration enforcement activities. Good was fatally shot on January 7 by an ICE officer, who claimed self-defense after she allegedly used her vehicle in a threatening manner, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Prior to these incidents, thousands of anti-ICE protesters had gathered in downtown Minneapolis for an “ICE Out of MN: Day of Truth and Freedom” march on January 23, just a day before Pretti’s death. The protest was part of a broader movement against federal immigration enforcement practices.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office for further comments regarding her stance on the protest and the ongoing immigration issues.
According to Fox News, Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to keep her office open reflects her commitment to supporting her constituents during a time of heightened tension surrounding immigration enforcement.