Paige Bueckers gets emotional addressing ICE actions in Minnesota

PHILADELPHIA – Minnesota natives Paige Bueckers and Rachel Banham talked about ICE’s presence in their hometown during the Unrivaled shootaround at the Allen Horowitz Sixth Man Center on Thursday, Jan. 29.

Bookers, a native of Hopkins, Minn., became emotional when she began talking about what was happening in her hometown. Protests continue in Minneapolis against President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans after two U.S. citizens, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, were killed by federal immigration officers this month.

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“It kind of hit home for me because that’s where I’m from,” said Bueckers, a defender for the British Columbia Breezes. “It’s unfortunate. Honestly, I grew up seeing and being a part of peaceful protests, marches, and communities coming together over tragic events. Innocent lives were taken, innocent families were torn apart. People were afraid to send their kids to school; people were afraid to go to work to feed their families; people were afraid to go to the grocery store.

“What’s going on is not good. We hope and pray that the direction of things will change.”

Bueckers said she is “proud to be from Minnesota.” She believes the way her hometown has stayed united amid recent events “is what Minnesota is all about.”

Unrivaled released a statement condemning ICE’s actions in Minnesota, saying in part: “In this time of grief, we choose compassion and solidarity. To everyone affected in Minnesota: we see you, we support you, and we stand with you.”