We have been following with grave and growing concern the events unfolding in Minneapolis, Minnesota and across our nation that involve federal immigration enforcement action by ICE and CBP. These incidents include the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens. In addition, there are instances involving the use of force to detain and hold U.S. citizens and foreign nationals without required due process protections. While we recognize the accounts of incidents in Minneapolis will continue to become public and evolve, our obligations as attorneys and our commitment to justice and the Rule of Law compel us to speak out:

We urge all law enforcement agents and officials, including ICE and CBP officers, to follow the law, the Constitution, and professional standards, to respect the right to peaceful protest, and to respect the protections afforded to all people under the Constitution, and specifically, the First, Second and Fourth Amendments;

We call for neutral and thorough investigations into the recent shooting deaths of the two individuals in Minneapolis, as well as other incidents involving the use of force by ICE and CBP officers against U.S. citizens and foreign nationals;

We call for a review of the legal authority of ICE and CBP officers to detain and hold U.S. citizens and foreign nationals without proper due process protections;

We call for our government officials at every level to issue measured, factual, and truthful statements about these events; to refrain from derogatory and inflammatory language, from creating memes and altered images of serious events, and from characterizing events prior to the completion of fair and neutral investigations. Our Constitution and our system of laws demand that those in positions of authority demonstrate commitment to the fair and thorough investigation of these events, and reject prejudging or mischaracterizing events before the facts have been thoroughly investigated by lawful authorities;

In keeping with a commitment to civility, integrity and justice, we call for everyone, especially our fellow attorneys, to educate themselves and to view available evidence rather than rush to judgment;

We also call for an end to the deployment of ICE, CBP, and other government agencies to coerce states into turning over voter rolls to the federal government in violation of the principles of our federalist system, and;

We condemn any conduct that erodes our sense of justice and accountability under our laws and urge others to do the same.