As the FBI investigates whether a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent was justified in shooting and killing a woman in Minnesota, immigration advocates in Dallas are focusing on community safety.
“I’m just more concerned than I was, and I think we all are,” said Eric Folkerth, senior pastor at Kessler Park United Methodist Church.
Folkerth is one of 40 faith leaders who meet weekly outside the Dallas ICE field office for a prayer vigil. While those gatherings have taken place for months without incident, he said the shooting on Wednesday has heightened concern.
“I think everybody is very much sober and attuned to the fact that I think we’ve known that stuff like this might happen, that people might go over the line,” Folkerth said. “But there’s a bit of a shock that it’s actually happened, even if it’s far away.”
Local and state leaders have also expressed concerns.
“This type of lawlessness is exactly why we as a City Council stood firm with our DPD chief and told ICE that they are not welcome in our city,” said Dallas City Councilman Adam Bazaldua in a statement.
On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Julie Johnson sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem questioning how ICE works with the Dallas Police Department.
The Department of Homeland Security has said the incident in Minnesota was an act of self-defense, a position echoed by Vice President J.D. Vance during a White House briefing Thursday.
“I can believe that her death is a tragedy while also recognizing that it’s a tragedy of her own making and a tragedy of the far left who has marshaled an entire movement, a lunatic fringe against our law enforcement officers,” Vance said.
Back in Dallas, Folkerth said the weekly vigils will continue, but he’s concerned about increasing tension.
“I hope there’s a place of commonality there where we can agree to exist as neighbors, as Americans, as people of faith, and build community rather than tear it apart,” he said. “I have to believe that’s still possible.”