Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega denounced the violence and abuses of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency during the Sundance Festival, amid a moment of protests and national tension following a fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis. «It's a really devastating moment for our country,» said Portman. She added: «The lack of a real resolution or any kind of sanction against the agents is incredibly terrifying and disappointing from our government.» Ortega shared her feelings: «It's hard to be in a place like this (Sundance) in these beautiful outfits talking about movies when something so horrible is happening right next to us.» Portman wore a 'Abolish ICE' pin and was visibly affected by the situation. The tension escalated after the death of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti, who was shot by ICE agents in Minneapolis. He had tried to intervene between immigration agents and protesters. This is the second such incident in less than three weeks in the state of Minnesota. Earlier, on January 7, a woman, Renee Good, was killed by an ICE agent's shots, sparking a wave of protests. Despite this, both actresses expressed pride in the civic mobilization. «It feels like American citizens are the best people in the world right now, supporting each other, their neighbors, their community, and defending their freedom,» Portman stated. They presented the film 'The Gallerist', a black comedy-thriller about an ambitious art gallery owner. The Sundance Festival will continue until February 1.
