A fierce rebuke erupted after Minnesota’s governor drew a parallel between current immigration enforcement and the horrors of the Holocaust, invoking the story of Anne Frank to illustrate the fear felt by children in his state.
The governor’s comments came in the wake of a tragic shooting involving a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs nurse, Alex Pretti, during an encounter with federal immigration agents. He described children reportedly hiding in their homes, gripped by fear due to the perceived aggression of federal agents operating within Minnesota.
“We have got children in Minnesota hiding in their houses, afraid to go outside,” the governor stated during a press briefing. He then directly referenced Anne Frank, the young Jewish diarist who perished in a Nazi concentration camp, suggesting a similar narrative could unfold in Minnesota under the current administration.
The comparison immediately drew sharp criticism from Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, the Trump administration’s special envoy to combat antisemitism. He argued the analogy fundamentally misrepresented the Holocaust, highlighting the crucial distinction between enforcing immigration law and systematic genocide.
Rabbi Kaploun pointed out a critical historical detail often overlooked: Anne Frank was residing legally in Amsterdam and adhering to Dutch law when she was targeted. Her persecution stemmed from her religious and racial identity, a stark contrast to the situation in Minnesota, he asserted.
He characterized the governor’s statement as historically illiterate and potentially antisemitic, arguing it diminished the unimaginable suffering endured during the Holocaust. He further defended the work of law enforcement, urging commendation rather than condemnation through such comparisons.
The organization StopAntisemitism echoed this sentiment, condemning the exploitation of the Holocaust for political gain, particularly amidst a global surge in antisemitism. They accused those making such comparisons of abusing history and failing to address contemporary Jew-hatred.
Federal authorities have maintained that their focus is on targeting undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes within the United States. Officials have specifically cited arrests and charges related to violent offenses, including sex crimes against children, as justification for their actions.
The governor’s office has yet to respond to requests for comment, leaving the controversy to simmer as the debate over immigration enforcement and historical sensitivity continues to intensify.
