Georgetown University students are denouncing the tactics used by federal immigration enforcement agencies in Minneapolis following the deaths of two protestors. 

Amid countrywide demonstrations following the deaths of Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, two Minneapolis residents who were fatally shot by federal agents in January, Georgetown students have grown anxious from increased federal presence in the Washington, D.C. area and across the country. Expressing concern for their state, Minnesotan students have contributed to humanitarian organizations, contacted legislators and attended protests against the deployment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials across the United States. 

Alana McGrath (SOH ’27), a student from Minnesota who knows people impacted by ICE, said she is grateful to be away from home and is focusing on spreading awareness about the ongoing protests.

“I think in order to show up for your community, you do have to show up for yourself,” McGrath told The Hoya. “I feel really privileged and lucky to be at Georgetown and from the Midwest and from Minneapolis, so I just think it’s about showing up here — in my academic spaces, in my classes and in my communities — talking about it, encouraging other people to talk about it and watch the videos, and engage in what’s going on and sharing resources.”

The Jan. 7 shooting of Good by an ICE agent sparked national outrage against federal law enforcement, prompting vigils and a 15,600-person strike, according to organizers, in Minnesota. Tensions later grew after Pretti was shot by a border patrol officer during a Jan. 24 confrontation, leading politicians to call for ICE’s removal from Minneapolis. 

Maya Mor (SFS ’27), a student from a Minneapolis suburb, said the university community should come together to denounce the recent shootings.

“I firmly believe that a majority of the Georgetown community, if not everybody, should agree that what is happening is wrong,” Mor told The Hoya. “We probably will disagree on what the best course of action is, how to address it and whether certain people are making the right and wrong decisions, and that’s fine, but at its core, what’s happening is wrong and everybody should agree.”

Gillian Anderson (MSB ’27), a student from the Minneapolis area, said she has felt separated from her home community in recent weeks.

“I honestly wish I was back in Minnesota right now,” Anderson told The Hoya. “I know that sounds crazy because everything is so chaotic and violent there, but I want to be there to support my neighbors and my community, and I feel very isolated from the community.”

With thousands of residents taking to the streets in protest, the Jan. 23 strike in Minnesota aimed to slow economic activity and pressure the federal government to withdraw ICE and other federal agents from the state. Tom Homan, the Trump-appointed “border czar,” announced Thursday that federal agents could be withdrawn from Minnesota if local and state governments were to make adequate concessions.

John Kirchner (CAS ’29), another Minnesotan student, said he has contacted legislators since the shootings to request they vote against proposed spending bills and push for changes to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“My mom and my dad were both at some protests, and I myself have gotten politically engaged,” Kirchner told The Hoya. “I’ve emailed both of my senators.”

“I think the ultimate goal is just trying to convince our senators not to increase ICE funding,” Kirchner added. 

On Jan. 29, the U.S. Senate rejected a six-bill spending package that included funding for DHS and ICE. Democrats have attempted to limit the $190 billion granted to DHS over the next four years during the 2025 government shutdown. Senators reached a deal for a two-week extension to DHS funding, but passed the six-bill spending package without establishing a budget for the department. 

Anna Holk (CAS ’27), a student from Chaska, Minn. who is supporting humanitarian efforts in the city, said she has found resources and local organizations to help on the ground.

“I’m using my voice how I can by making donations — especially to organizations that are helping immigrants in Minnesota and supplying food shelves especially,” Holk told The Hoya.

“Having friends and family in Minnesota, it’s pretty easy to make those connections as far as ‘oh, this organization is doing a lot of good work on the ground and right now you should support them,’ and finding local GoFundMes, as well as organizations like Second Harvest Heartland and other mutual aid networks in Minneapolis that are really doing a lot of good work,” Holk added. 

Georgetown students have also taken direct action against DHS and its perceived ties to the university. 

Earlier this month, Georgetown University Law Center students petitioned the university to remove DHS and ICE from a Jan. 23 public service career fair. Although the university declined to remove both agencies from the fair, a Law Center spokesperson confirmed to The Hoya on Jan. 23 that ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor withdrew itself from the fair. Only ICE’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center participated. 

Chase Dobson (CAS ’27), who attended a Jan. 24 protest at ICE headquarters, said he believes students not impacted by the ongoing turmoil are complacent.

“We are kind of in this really upsetting state of apathy right now, where we’re watching this play out from our phones and watching it play out on our TV screens and through hashtags, and it’s one thousand trillion miles away in our heads because of that,” Dobson told The Hoya. “But if this was happening in our communities, if this was happening to our friends, we would have been screaming it from the mountaintops yesterday.”

Holk said standing with those affected by ICE and speaking up about the protests are the best ways for students to show support.

“Anytime students are standing up and using their voices, it makes me feel really proud and glad to be a part of that community,” Holk said. “Especially seeing people stand up to protest in the wake of ICE’s execution of Alex Pretti, I think it’s really comforting to know that people are paying attention to what’s happening in Minnesota and in the community. Solidarity is something that’s really important right now.”

Mor said while she is grateful for the solidarity, the Minneapolis community is unjustly facing disruption and violence.“The outpour of support that you’re seeing is really hopeful and inspiring, but we shouldn’t have to be resilient,” Mor said. “We shouldn’t have to be hopeful because people are going out into the street and disagreeing with the violence, the terror and the violation of law. We’re applauding people for thinking that this is wrong, but this should have never happened to begin with.”

CORRECTION: This article was updated Jan. 31 to state that Anna Holk (CAS ’27) is a student from Chaska, Minn.