Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
― George Orwell, 1984

“Don’t believe your lying eyes.” 

The quote, which originated in the Marx Brothers' movie Duck Soup in 1933, has been deployed in a variety of contexts by comics, authors, and orators, leaning into irony for nearly a century.

I never thought that I would see the day when the federal government would use it to defend the execution of an American citizen on American soil, in broad daylight, on camera. That is precisely what occurred on the morning of January 7th, when 37-year-old wife and mother, Renee Nicole Good, was shot at point-blank range by an immigration enforcement officer as she tried to leave the scene of a protest in Minneapolis.

NEW YORK and MINNEAPOLIS (January 8, 2026) — National Urban League President & CEO Marc H. Morial and Urban League Twin Cities President & CEO Marquita Stephens issued the following joint statement in response to the recent killing of an American citizen by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents:

“The killing of American citizens by ICE agents cannot and will not be tolerated. For more than 50 years, law enforcement policy has explicitly prohibited shooting at moving vehicles—a principle established in 1972 and widely recognized as best practice. ICE agents’ decision to ignore this standard represents a dangerous and unacceptable escalation of force, rooted in outdated and reckless tactics.

NEW YORK (January 4, 2026) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement regarding U.S. military action in Venezuela:

“It’s easy to focus on the methods of civic participation that make news, and hard to imagine the importance of the things we do each day with our own minds and hearts. Who nurtured a child in the kitchen; who was kind to a stranger in line at a grocery store; who gave fifty dollars to a local food shelter: these are not news stories. But all of it matters.” – MacKenzie Scott

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“What we are seeing unfold in our community is not public safety; it is a political stunt wrapped in badges, armored vehicles, and military uniforms.” – U.S. Rep. Troy Carter

The Trump administration vowed its south Louisiana immigration sweep would target violent criminals.

In reality, a mere handful of those swept up in “Operation Catahoula Crunch,” have criminal histories of any kind. Far more of those detained have been accused of no wrongdoing and hold authorization them to live and work in the United States.

NEW YORK (December 15, 2025) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the murders of Rob and Michele Reiner

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“When Mr. Trump maligns me, it increases the number of death threats that my family, staff members and I receive. As a member of Congress, I am privileged to have access to security when these threats arise. What keeps me up at night is that people who share the identities I hold — Black, Somali, hijabi, immigrant — will suffer the consequences of his words, which so often go unchecked by members of the Republican Party and other elected officials. All Americans have a duty to call out this hateful rhetoric when we hear it.” – Rep. Ilhan Omar

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“New Orleans is a city with a soul. Our culture, our neighborhoods, our traditions, and our deep sense of community shape how we live and how we keep each other safe. Any law enforcement activity in our city, including federal operations, must honor that reality. It must reflect an understanding of our local laws, our norms, and our people.”

Of all the cities in the nation, New Orleans perhaps best exemplifies the virtues of the American melting pot. Just as our signature dish, gumbo, depends upon the many distinct ingredients and culinary styles that come together to create something rich, flavorful, and unsurpassed, New Orlean's beauty and strength comes from the interwoven cultures and traditions of its diverse population.

Any federal law enforcement operation in New Orleans, especially one focused on immigration, must respect those cultures and traditions.