Letter: ICE has made us less safe

_Letters submitted by BDN readers are verified by BDN Opinion Page staff. Send your letters to [letters@bangordailynews.com](https://web.archive.org/web/20210227020014/mailto:letters@bangordailynews.com)_ I keep seeing this response to the Minnesota shooting: “If she had just obeyed law enforcement instructions, she’d still be alive today.” I didn’t used to live in a country where failing to obey instructions was grounds for being shot in the head. It used to be that law enforcement could only fire on civilians as a last resort to imminent danger. But it seems that ICE now [draws weapons](https://bangordailynews.com/2026/01/07/nation/fatal-shooting-by-ice-agent-in-minneapolis-raises-questions-about-officers-firing-at-moving-vehicles/?_ga=2.41689767.446752969.1768221141-668823499.1757355415) for literally everything, from shouted insults to bystanders with cell phones to someone throwing a snowball. This vehicle in Minneapolis was turning away from the agent when he stepped up and [shot her](https://bangordailynews.com/2026/01/08/nation/minnesota-shooting-videos-challenge-administration-narrative-policing-experts-question-tactics/?_ga=2.41689767.446752969.1768221141-668823499.1757355415) through the side window. But we’re told that following instructions would have saved her life. I used to just have to tell my kids to obey the law. Now I have to tell them to do what the masked man says or they’ll get shot in the head. Somehow, that feels less safe than before ICE started... --- *Note: This is a summarized excerpt. Click the source link above to read the full story.*