On a frigid Wednesday night in Washington D.C., nearly a thousand people gathered outside the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) headquarters, a block from the White House, to honor Alex Pretti and call for an end to funding for U.S. immigration and border enforcement agencies. Despite temperatures plummeting to their lowest levels in 150 years, the atmosphere was charged with emotion and solidarity.

The tragic killings of Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a veterans hospital in Minneapolis, and Renee Good, a poet and mother, have sent shockwaves through the community and the nation. As Congress deliberates a critical funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—tensions are escalating regarding government policy and the future of these agencies.

The recent winter storm has left D.C. locked in ice, yet hundreds braved the elements to support the vigil. Attendees laid flowers and lit candles at a memorial for Pretti, part of a series of events organized by National Nurses United (NNU) across the country. Vigils also took place in Portland, Oregon; Eugene, Oregon; Chicago; New York; and San Diego, amplifying public opinion against federal enforcement actions nationwide.

Chants of “No more funding for CBP, no more funding for DHS! Stop killing our neighbors!” echoed through the gathering, as mourners expressed their grief and outrage. Nolan Lee, a college student and local resident, shared his personal connection to the events, emphasizing a growing sense of fear and community disruption in Minnesota. “It broke me,” he said about the news of Pretti’s death, noting, “Minneapolis is really hurting.”

Lee highlighted that the issue extends beyond urban settings, with incidents of people going missing across suburban and rural areas as part of broader federal operations. “It is an attack on the state of Minnesota,” he claimed.

In D.C., Lee expressed the need for collective action: “I’m really here right now just to hold community and pray that we collectively do something.” The ongoing struggle against DHS funding is not only significant for Minnesota but also resonates across America, says Democratic Congressman James Walkinshaw. He condemned the brutality exhibited by ICE and CBP and stressed its importance for democracy in America.

Elizabeth Coughlin, a graduate student at George Washington University, echoed these sentiments, stating, “People of the U.S. are united in this cause across the country.” She called for the abolition of ICE and urged leaders to reconsider funding for DHS.

As activists organized a nationwide strike advocating “no work, no school, no shopping,” the urgency of the situation became increasingly palpable. Many viewed this mobilization as a critical moment for civic engagement in the fight against what they perceive as oppressive government policies.

During the vigil, the Rev. Chris Antal led attendees in a moment of silence, followed by a communal expression of grief that resonated throughout the gathering. The VA staff expressed dissatisfaction with VA Secretary Doug Collins, who faced backlash for his lack of communication regarding Pretti’s death and for blaming local officials for the incident.

Doug Massey, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 17, criticized Collins’ leadership, stressing the need for accountability and reform in governmental practices related to veterans and their care. Christine Grant, a nurse at the D.C. VA Medical Center, voiced her strong disapproval of federal actions, declaring, “This is not who we are! Enough!”

In the wake of the tragedy, nurse Daniel Amyx produced lapel buttons in memory of Pretti, highlighting the impact of community support and care within the nursing profession. He reminded attendees that they are “the next shift” in the ongoing fight for justice and accountability.