Berkeley, CA — January 30, 2026
The Center for Independent Living (CIL) unequivocally denounces the escalation of authoritarian violence and state-sponsored terror targeting immigrant children, families, and communities, as well as peaceful protesters and legal observers, across the United States. Across the country, millions of people have mobilized in solidarity to oppose state-enacted violence and to affirm democratic values.
As an organization led by and for people with disabilities, CIL recognizes that collective freedom is inextricably linked to the safety and rights of all marginalized communities.
CIL condemns the practices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including militarized detention and forced removals that destabilize families and inflict lasting trauma on communities. The use of a child as a means to apprehend their parents is yet another example of ICE’s cruel and inhumane practices. Such actions violate the fundamental right to live with dignity and undermine the constitutional protections that form the foundation of human and civil rights.
“The Independent Living movement was built on the principle that every person has the right to live safely in their community,” said Dr. Victor Santiago Pineda, Executive Director of the Center for Independent Living. “When the state employs lethal force to suppress dissent or targets individuals based on heritage or social identity, it constitutes an assault on the very principles of independence, equity, and justice.”
We honor those who have lost their lives as a result of enforcement violence and neglect, including Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were killed while acting according to their conscience and in defense of those targeted by ICE; Keith Porter, who was killed by ICE during a New Year’s celebration; and others who have died while in ICE custody. We stand in solidarity with their families and with the National Shutdown movement in its call for justice and accountability.
The use of “othering” rhetoric to dehumanize disabled people, immigrants, and people of color serves only to legitimize systemic cruelty. CIL categorically rejects fear as a tool of governance. Instead, we urge leaders and community members alike to uphold the humanistic principles of interdependence, care, and mutual respect. The killing of individuals for acts of care represents a profound violation of the foundational values of the Independent Living and Disability Rights and Justice movements.
CIL calls on the public to take action by supporting local immigrant rights organizations and demanding institutional accountability. We must remain steadfast in our shared humanity to protect the rights that make freedom possible for all.
About the Center for Independent Living
The Center for Independent Living is a disability-led organization dedicated to advancing the rights, dignity, and full inclusion of people with disabilities. Grounded in Disability Justice, CIL works to dismantle systemic barriers and build equitable, inclusive communities.
