In the wake of the tragic shooting of Alex Pretti by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, nurses from Las Vegas have come together in a display of unity and remembrance. Registered nurses and members of National Nurses United assembled for a candlelight vigil outside Saint Rose Siena Hospital last night, as reported by FOX5 Vegas. The gathering was not just to honor the memory of Pretti, but also to send a strong message against violence and to emphasize the role of healthcare workers in serving all individuals, regardless of their immigration status.
Lisa Cornelius, a registered nurse, delivered a poignant statement during the vigil. "Being an immigrant does not make you a criminal. Immigrants are our neighbors. They’re our friends. They’re our family. They're our coworkers. And as a nurse, we care for everyone. We don’t decide your care based on your immigration status. Every patient should be treated equally well," she told FOX5 Vegas. These words threw into sharp relief the vital importance of nurses in the community and their commitment to provide indiscriminate care.
Meanwhile, Linda Ward-Smith, who serves as the local president of the American Federation of Government Employees, of which Pretti was a member, reflected on the profound sense of duty that defined Pretti’s life. "To see that the very thing that he did his whole life, he died doing," Ward-Smith said in an interview with 8 News Now. The nurses gathered with signs, candles, and photos to stand in solidarity with Pretti, expressing their determination to challenge the ongoing fear and violence.
Amidst this solemn tribute, President Donald Trump addressed the incident, labeling Pretti's death as an unfortunate thing, and stated his intention to reserve judgment until federal investigations are concluded. Furthermore, Trump has dispatched White House Border Czar Tom Homan to Minnesota to oversee ICE operations in response to the incident. "Tom Homan, as you know, is in Minnesota," the President told reporters. "He is meeting with the governor, he is meeting with the mayor, I think later, and I hear that it is all going very well.” The American Federation of Government Employees is set to hold another vigil for Pretti this Sunday at 12:00 p.m. at the Federal Courthouse in Downtown Las Vegas, continuing their call for justice and remembrance, as noted by 8 News Now.
The death of Pretti has struck a chord with many across the nation, particularly in the healthcare community. "We need to treat each other with love and kindness and support," Cornelius emphasized, as quoted by 8 News Now. The Las Vegas nurses at the vigil reiterated that they are there to care for all individuals, a principle underscored by this tragic event. "This is not just happening to people who are not citizens of this country," Cornelius concluded. "It’s happening to citizens as well."
