Unchecked federal enforcement is putting constitutional rights and American lives at risk.
A Letter to the Residents of Illinois’ 7th Congressional District
To my neighbors across the 7th Congressional District,
Americans are watching with growing concern as federal immigration enforcement operations under this administration have repeatedly resulted in tragic outcomes and raised serious questions about civil liberties, oversight, and public safety.
In January 2026, Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother, was fatally shot by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis during a large enforcement operation. Later that same month, Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old American nurse, was also killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, an incident that sparked national protests and renewed scrutiny. These deaths occurred amid a broader enforcement surge that has drawn attention, local pushback, and legal challenges.
Earlier incidents further illustrate the human cost of unchecked enforcement. On New Year’s Eve 2025, Keith Porter Jr., a 43-year-old African American U.S. citizen and father, was killed by an off-duty ICE officer in Los Angeles. In September 2025, Silverio Villegas González was shot and killed by an ICE agent during a traffic stop in a Chicago suburb.
These events are part of at least eight deaths connected to immigration enforcement actions so far in 2026 alone, prompting protests, official criticism, and deep unease across the country.
Our country’s founding principles are rooted in the protection of civil rights and civil liberties. When federal enforcement is implemented without clear accountability, transparency, or respect for due process, it erodes trust in government and risks harming the very communities we are sworn to protect.
Because ICE has repeatedly operated without sufficient accountability, I support abolishing ICE as it exists today and replacing it with an immigration system that upholds constitutional rights, due process, and human dignity while maintaining public safety.
But as serious as these events are, families across America are also struggling with persistent challenges at home that affect their daily lives. Millions of households are feeling the impact of rising prices for food, housing, utilities, and health care. Health care premiums and out-of-pocket costs continue to rise, and far too many families are left wondering how they will make ends meet. Jobs may be available, but wages have not kept pace with inflation, and basic affordability remains a burden for working people and seniors alike.
Washington’s focus has at times been on headline controversies and foreign distractions, while the real problems Americans face, inflation, affordable housing, access to quality health care, and the rising cost of everyday living, go unaddressed. This disparity between federal priorities and everyday reality frustrates families who want leaders in Congress to deliver results and solutions.
I believe our government must be accountable, transparent, and focused first on protecting civil liberties here at home and improving the lives of the people it serves. We need leadership that confronts abuses of power, restores balance, and tackles the issues hurting working families every day.
As your candidate for Congress in Illinois’ 7th District, I will fight for meaningful oversight of federal agencies, protect constitutional rights, and push for policies that ease the burden of inflation, strengthen the economy, expand access to health care, and improve affordability for all families.
Together, we can ensure our government works for the people and not at their expense.
