Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Statement on Fatal Law Enforcement Shootings and the Rule of Law

The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) joins the legal community in calling for accountability, transparency, and justice following the fatal shootings of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, killed by federal Border Patrol agents during an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis on January 24, 2026; Renée Nicole Good, a U.S. citizen fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026; and Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, who was killed in Illinois during a law enforcement encounter.

Each of these deaths raises serious concerns about the use of force by law enforcement and the protection of constitutional rights during enforcement operations. Taken together, they underscore the urgent need for independent investigation, transparency, and accountability—particularly in cases arising from immigration enforcement and related law enforcement activity in Illinois and across the nation.

The WBAI is deeply concerned by any infringement on constitutional protections, including the rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, protest, and to observe and record law enforcement activity. These rights are fundamental to a democratic society and must be upheld without exception. The deaths of Mr. Pretti, Ms. Good, and Mr. Villegas Gonzalez highlight broader, systemic issues of law enforcement accountability in Minneapolis, Chicago, communities throughout Illinois, and beyond.

Calls to Action

Immediate Measures

• Independent investigations into the killings of Alex Pretti, Renée Nicole Good, and Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, conducted without improper interference.
  
• Prompt public release of all body-worn camera footage and related evidence.
  
• Retraction of prejudicial or inflammatory public statements prior to the conclusion of investigations.
  
• Suspension of immigration enforcement operations in affected jurisdictions, where appropriate, pending investigative findings and implementation of safeguards and training.

Oversight and Reform

• Congressional and legislative oversight addressing patterns of deadly force involving federal immigration enforcement and law enforcement agencies.
  
• Mandatory body-worn cameras for federal immigration enforcement personnel and timely public disclosure of all use-of-force incidents.
  
• Independent civilian oversight and enhanced, mandatory training in de-escalation, constitutional policing, and respect for human life and civil liberties.
  

The WBAI emphasizes that when official narratives conflict with video or eyewitness evidence, independent verification is essential to justice. The legal profession must defend the public’s right to protest peacefully, to observe and record law enforcement, and to insist on accountability consistent with the rule of law.

Our Commitment

The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois remains committed to defending constitutional rights, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring accountability at every level of government. We stand with community members and peaceful protesters and will continue to advocate for transparency, independent investigations, and systemic reforms that protect human dignity and civil liberties. The rule of law must apply equally to all—especially those entrusted with enforcing it.