‘This is what America is now’: Americans alarmed by human rights violations

At the Calvary Baptist Church in Minneapolis, the doors swung open and shut as locals sought refuge from the biting cold on Sunday, the BBC writes.

The 140-year-old building sits just blocks away from where Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse, was shot dead by federal immigration agents during a confrontation on Saturday morning.

In the wake of the shooting, which marked the second time in less than a month that a US citizen has been killed by agents in the city, the church has become what locals describe as a haven from the unrest and uncertainty outside.

“This is what America is now,” the church administrator said.

According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the 37-year-old man shot dead in Minneapolis was allegedly armed and resisted law enforcement, while eyewitnesses claim that he only had a phone in his hand at the time.

Earlier, ICE agents had killed a 37-year-old woman during a “hunt” for suspected unauthorized immigrants. Recently, they also broke down the door of a Minnesota resident’s home, handcuffed him, and dragged him through the snow in his underwear and Crocs.

Videos of both shootings quickly spread on social media. They prompted angry protests from those who want to see an end to an immigration enforcement operation.

“I don’t understand how they can come in and just start snatching people that are citizens and start treating them like they’re animals,” one of the protesters said.

Some of the protesters say that although the United States has never been perfect, it was improving and growing. Others say they are tired of protesting and express deep concern about the future.”