Weekly Email 1/26/26

RTB member Christina Shultz captured this stunning image of a fog bow in early January.

A note from RTB: The following newsletter was written prior to the tragic shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, which raises even more serious questions about ICE's tactics and the authority its officers claim to have. The shooting of Renee Nicole Good can no longer be viewed as an isolated incident. We encourage you to contact your representatives to voice your concerns about these troubling developments. Contact information for your elected officials is available on our website here, or you can search online for local, state, and federal representatives.

Letters From an American: January 24, 2026 by Heather Cox Richardson — Read here

Your Monday Update from RTB: ICE Tactics and the Insurrection Act

When Renee Good went out to protect her neighbors in Minneapolis on January 7, she was shot and killed by an ICE officer. Ms. Good thought she was living in one world, with one set of rules. It turns out, she wasn't.

In his compelling New York Times column published on January 18, David French describes how the failures in the system of checks and balances have helped create the parallel universe in which we find ourselves, "what the Nazi-era Jewish labor lawyer Ernst Fraenkel called 'the dual state.'" French cites Aziz Huq's definition:

"The two components of the dual state are the normative state — the seemingly normal world that you and I inhabit, where, as Huq writes, the 'ordinary legal system of rules, procedures and precedents' applies — and the prerogative state, which is marked (in Fraenkel's words) by 'unlimited arbitrariness and violence unchecked by any legal guarantees.' It's the continued existence of the normative state that lulls a population to sleep. It makes you discount the warnings of others. 'Surely,' you say to yourself, 'things aren't that bad. My life is pretty much what it was.'"

If you would like to read French's complete column but do not have a subscription, please try this gift link:

An Old Theory Helps Explain What Happened to Renee — Read here There is no doubt that the killing of Ms. Good and the actions of ICE in Minnesota have raised many other questions. What is ICE authorized to do by law, not only to suspected undocumented immigrants but to any of us? What rights do we have under the Fourth Amendment? Can ICE enter your home without a judicial warrant? What is the Insurrection Act, and when can it be invoked? We have gathered some resources to help answer these questions:

What Does the Fourth Amendment Mean? — Read here The Constitution, through the Fourth Amendment, protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. The Fourth Amendment, however, is not a guarantee against all searches and seizures, but only those that are deemed unreasonable under the law.ICE Says it Doesn't Need a Judicial Warrant — Read here. A leaked memo shows that ICE agents can enter homes with an administrative warrant issued by ICE, not a judge.

What is the Insurrection Act? — Read here Understanding this controversial law and when it can be invoked.

Other News and Upcoming Events!

• Community Voices: Standing Up for the Rule of Law — Read here

  • In follow-up to our email last week, you might have seen this excellent piece in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel by Tim Foster and Sarah Shrader, in which they perfectly articulated what many in our community feel about the Tina Peters case. 

• Roundtable Recap

  • We have received very positive feedback following our second roundtable event last Tuesday. Participants enjoyed the opportunity to engage with elected officials in constructive conversations. Many thanks to the elected officials who participated: Scott Belifuss, JJ Fletcher, Dean Havlik, and Dan Rubenstein, as well as to all the attendees and our amazing group of volunteers.

• Volunteer Opportunity — Learn more here

  • Are you interested in serving on a county board? There are multiple openings, including one on the planning commission. 

• On the Radar, Local Meetings: 

  • Board of County Commissioners: Tuesdays @ 9 am

  • Grand Junction City Council: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 5:30 pm

  • Palisade City Council: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 6 pm

  • Fruita City Council: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 7 pm

  • D51 School Board: 3rd Tuesdays @ 5 pm

  • Mesa County Library Board: Last Thursdays @ 5:30 pm

  • Public Health Board: Monthly Tuesdays @ 3 pm 

RTB Member Insights.

Here are some recommendations from our members:

• Listen:

  • Fresh Air, NPR: Are ICE Agents Breaking the Law?

    • Listen here

• For a smile:

  • Music to brighten your day:

    • Listen here

• Thank you to all who have reached out and shared photos. Don't forget to send us your book and podcast recommendations!

  • Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter? Our best recommendations come from you! Have you read a thought-provoking book? Listened to an insightful podcast? Found an article worth sharing? Captured a beautiful photo of Western Colorado? We want to feature your discoveries and perspectives in our Monday Update. You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you; it's your choice.

    • Submit your recommendations here