For many decades, we have seen the immigration system carry out actions that have cost the lives of many innocent immigrants. And over the past three decades, we have witnessed people seeking asylum being sent back to their home countries, only to be killed by drug traffickers, governments, gangs, or, in many cases, by their own spouses.

Today we are shocked by the execution of two white U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, both 37 years old, at the hands of ICE. In fact, many other racialized minorities have been seriously injured or killed due to recent practices by the Department of Homeland Security.

Not to mention those who die while crossing the border or are killed by extreme weather or by border agents. It has been reported that some agents have raped immigrants before taking their lives. These immigrants are not coming here to visit Disney; they are fleeing violence and extreme poverty. They cross the border without documents because the so‑called legal process is so limited and economically out of reach for most, even though they end up paying smugglers for years.

These individuals arrive in the United States in search of freedom and willing to work for near‑slave wages and under deplorable working conditions that our own citizens would not accept.

On October 12, 2012, José Antonio Elena Rodríguez was shot ten times in the back and head by Border Patrol agent Lonnie Swartz. Swartz claimed his life was in danger — a lie — and shot this innocent boy by firing deadly bullets into Mexico.

Cases like this, as well as others committed by border agents, are rarely prosecuted. José Antonio’s killing sparked the formation of the Border Murder Victims Network. Many others have been killed in situations where there were no witnesses or cameras. Ongoing efforts to shed light on these cases have been led by José Antonio’s mother and grandmother, along with many community activists.

On the 10th of every month, the Network gathers with activists at the site where José Antonio was killed and demands justice for him and all victims.

There are also inhumane practices occurring inside immigrant detention centers, and deaths that seem to go unnoticed.

What we are seeing in Minnesota, Chicago, and elsewhere is a policy driven by racism and far‑right extremism. And what makes it worse is that this level of violence is being encouraged by the White House.

Finally, it seems that some changes may come to ICE, but the core policy and practices remain intact. Abusers and killers are not being investigated or prosecuted as they should be.

Politically, these harsh immigration practices will likely hurt more than a handful of officials seeking reelection. Voters will certainly scrutinize the economy and their healthcare coverage when they head to the polls, but they will also remember ICE’s violence.

They will also remain shocked by the fact that our government immediately labeled the two white individuals killed as terrorists, even though the footage clearly showed they were executed.

We must demand a full investigation of the Department of Homeland Security and freeze its funding until this critical process is completed.

We must act now to save lives — and to save our democracy.