The death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in the hands of Border Patrol agents over the weekend prompted a debate among Colorado senators on Monday, with Democrats saying he and others were just exercising their rights, while Republicans questioned bringing a loaded weapon to a protest.

“We are witnessing the conflation of immigration status, dissent, and criminality,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, initially addressing a group of young people visiting the Senate, many of whom were there for a resolution honoring 4-H, a youth development organization. 

Gonzales said both Pretti and Renee Good were using their First Amendment rights when they were shot and killed. Pretti was also using his Second Amendment right, she said. Yet both have been labeled domestic terrorists, she said.

“I beg for cooler heads to prevail, particularly when our government is telling us to not believe what we have witnessed with our own eyes,” she said. “Until cooler heads prevail, what will we do and how will we act, and make sure everyone is treated with dignity and respect.”

Gonzales added that multiple people have died at the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or in immigration custody since the beginning of the year. Not counting the two recent fatalities, Reuters reported six deaths of people while in immigration custody since the first of the year.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said U.S. ICE agents now face a “1,300% increase in assaults, a 3,200% increase in vehicular attacks against them, and an 8,000% increase in death threats.”

Across the political aisle, Sen. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs, said he does “not fear our government” or those in law enforcement.

In the case of the Good shooting, Liston said the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in question had already been dragged 200 feet and severely injured. Had Good followed the direction of law enforcement, she would still be alive, Liston said.

As for the incident in which Pretti was killed, Liston asked, “Who brings a loaded 9mm pistol to a demonstration?”

A normal, reasonable person would not bring a loaded handgun to a demonstration, Liston said, adding, “All we have to do is follow the directives they give us.”

Sen. Iman Jodeh, D-Aurora, who spoke first in Arabic and repeated it in English, said families are living in fear, afraid to take their children to school or to go to work.

“Fear has replaced trust,” she said. “As senators, we have a responsibility to make sure Coloradans feel safe, regardless of the political climate.”

Sen. Mark Baisley, R-Woodland Park, claimed people don’t understand the immigration process and that 1.2 million people are legally admitted to the U.S. each year.

He explained the legal process, including criminal background checks to ensure individuals coming to the U.S. will be “contributors instead of a financial burden to American citizens,” and “to keep the number of immigrants low enough so that they assimilate into our culture more than they will bring the richness of their culture (here).”

He claimed the Biden administration was flying immigrants into the U.S. in military planes without vetting them, adding that is the source of today’s chaos. 

That’s a claim initially made by the Center for Immigration Studies. The Associated Press said the claim is “unfounded.”

“We’ve got to get past this in a smart way,” Baisley said. “We need to escort folks out of the country who ought not be here.”

Baisley’s comments led to an outburst by Sen. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton.

“Maybe we should stop killing Americans,” he said.

He was gaveled for being out of order. Senate President James Coleman, D-Denver, said he did not hear what Mullica said.

The discussion didn’t end when the Senate adjourned. Baisley and Mullica continued to talk, sometimes with raised voices, for a few minutes, later joined by Sen. Jeff Bridges, D-Greenwood Village.

Mullica told Baisley he was sorry if he had been offended.

“But it’s not a partisan issue to not want to see people killed,” and that the video from Saturday was “a terrible thing,” Mullica said. Baisley agreed with him on that point.

Mullica told Colorado Politics he was not sorry for what he said.

At the end of the discussion, everyone shook hands and walked away.

Meanwhile, the Denver Police closed Lincoln Street between 14th Street and Colfax on Monday afternoon after about 200 protesters gathered on the street to protest ICE.

Immigration and Border Patrol officers have intensified operations in Minnesota, where Renee Good was killed on Jan. 7 and Pretti on Saturday.