Deborah Fleischaker, a high-ranking official within the Department of Homeland Security, has spoken out about the recent fatal shooting of Alex Pretic, a 24-year-old migrant who was shot and killed by a US Border Patrol agent while attempting to cross into Minneapolis.
Fleischaker, who served as chief of staff at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Biden administration, expressed concerns that such incidents could be prevented if agents were better trained to handle difficult situations.
She also stressed the importance of addressing the trauma experienced by migrants after being shot by Border Patrol agents, and for these individuals to have access to proper medical treatment, psychological support, and to know their rights.
In her view, this tragedy highlights a need for policymakers to re-evaluate border control policies that might be exacerbating tensions between US authorities and migrant communities.
According to Fleischaker, the lack of transparency in the investigation into Pretic's death further fueled public mistrust in law enforcement agencies tasked with enforcing immigration laws.
Fleischaker, who served as chief of staff at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Biden administration, expressed concerns that such incidents could be prevented if agents were better trained to handle difficult situations.
She also stressed the importance of addressing the trauma experienced by migrants after being shot by Border Patrol agents, and for these individuals to have access to proper medical treatment, psychological support, and to know their rights.
In her view, this tragedy highlights a need for policymakers to re-evaluate border control policies that might be exacerbating tensions between US authorities and migrant communities.
According to Fleischaker, the lack of transparency in the investigation into Pretic's death further fueled public mistrust in law enforcement agencies tasked with enforcing immigration laws.
. But Deborah Fleischaker is like a breath of fresh air, you feel? She's speaking out about the need for better training and support for those agents, and also advocating for the mental health and rights of migrants - it's all so positive 
.
. The lack of transparency in the investigation is super concerning, but maybe this tragedy can spark some real change 
.
But instead of letting it fuel more hate or division, let's use it as an opportunity to come together and build something better 
.
Just saw this article about Alex Pretic getting shot by a Border Patrol agent 
. The thing that got me is how many times we've seen this happen since 2018 
and still, nothing major changes 
. According to data from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), between 2018-2022, there were 1,144 reported uses of force by US Border Patrol agents resulting in fatalities among migrants 
. That's a total of 32 lives lost 
.
. With an average cost per migrant of around $15,000 (according to Customs and Border Protection) that adds up quickly 
.
. Fleischaker mentioned that, which got me thinking: In 2020, a report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the US government was not transparent about its use-of-force policies during border crossings 
. That's something to look into further 
. I mean, can't imagine being in his shoes, you know? Trying to make a new life for yourself and just get shot by the people supposed to be helping you 
. And Deborah Fleischaker's comments on better training for Border Patrol agents hit me hard too... it feels like we're already pushing people to do impossible stuff, so yeah, more support would be great 
. But at the same time, I can see why they need more guidance - all this tension is making things super complicated 
. What if Pretic wasn't even a threat to anyone? This just seems like so much more than what it should be 
.