The following statement was released by the Burlington County Commissioners in response to violent actions by federal agents in Minnesota and the resulting deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti:

“Our Board, like millions of Americans around the country, was shocked and heartbroken by the senseless deaths that have occurred in Minnesota the past weeks, along with the violence, fear and chaos we believe is intentionally being inflicted upon Americans and American communities under the guise of immigration enforcement.

While our Board believes deeply in the rule of law and supporting law enforcement, we will not ignore the injustices we clearly see occurring daily; nor will we stay silent when rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution are trampled upon.

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) continues taking unjust and unlawful actions against people on American soil.  Burlington County will not tolerate, condone, partner with or support ICE’s illegal intrusion of civil rights and liberties. In Burlington County we will look to our local, county and state law enforcement officers to uphold order, protect and serve. This evening, the Burlington County Board of Commissioners passed a Resolution condemning the senseless deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, as well as the countless other civil rights violations committed against innocent women, children and men. 

Dr. Martin Luther King wrote: ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ Minnesota may be a thousand miles from Burlington County, but we stand with those demanding accountability, due process, justice and an end to the oppressive occupations of our communities.”

The following Resolution was approved by the Commissioners: 

Whereas, Burlington County and the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Burlington (the “Board”) believe deeply in the United States’ founding principles of freedom, equality, due process and justice, and that all individuals must enjoy equal protection under the law; and

Whereas, recent violent actions by the federal agents, including the January deaths of Intensive Care Unit nurse Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota, raise serious concerns about the use of force by federal immigration agents and the adequacy of existing oversight, standards and accountability within the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its enforcement components, including U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and

Whereas, Federal law enforcement agencies exercise extraordinary authority, including the power to detain individuals and use lethal force, and such authority must be accompanied by clear rules, transparency and accountability to the public; and

Whereas, Burlington County and the Board believe strongly in upholding the rule of law and supporting lawful public safety functions while insisting that all law enforcement officers respect constitutional rights and are accountable when those standards are violated; and 

Whereas, it is the responsibility of members of the Board to stand against unlawful civil rights violations, regardless of where such offenses occur; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, the Burlington County Board of County Commissioners hereby condemn the killings of Renee Good and Alex Preitt and other overzealous and unjust enforcement by Department of Homeland Security agents as part of Operation Metro Storm in Minnesota, along with other American communities; and be it further

Resolved, the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Burlington calls on the Congress of the United States to take steps to ensure federal immigration enforcement agencies operate under clear standards that protect public safety, respect constitutional rights and provide real accountability when those standards are violated.