Morning Note

Minnesota’s ICE situation has once again devolved into chaos. 

The weekend shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti returned the North Star State to the center of America’s political discourse, reactivating fierce debates over illegal immigration, the government’s use of deportation forces, and appropriate means of protest. Enraged demonstrators took to the streets shortly after Pretti’s death, prompting Tim Walz to deploy his National Guard. He did so for good reason.

A rioter bit off the tip of a Homeland Security Investigations agent’s finger on Saturday, ripping off his entire fingernail and about an inch of flesh and bone below. The officer will lose his full finger, HSI said. A different Border Patrol agent also had his finger bitten, although not as seriously.

Regardless of your views on ICE or Donald Trump, it’s clear that what’s occurring in Minneapolis is completely out of control. Things like this would never happen if America were in a better collective headspace. Leaders in Washington and Minneapolis must do everything possible to lower the temperature. No more Americans should lose their lives or body parts.

Read more here and see images here. Warning: the photos are graphic.