Two Reform councillors who posted support for US immigration officers after a fatal shooting have been condemned by the leader of the county council.

Councillor Dan Harrison, the leader of Leicestershire County Council, was forced to send an email to council staff after Councillor Joseph Boam, the authority's former deputy leader who represents the Whitwick ward, posted a picture on X saying "I Stand With ICE" in the wake of the fatal shooting of nurse Alex Pretti late last month.

Cllr Boam was joined by the Valley ward's Cllr Michael Squires, the cabinet member for health and public health, who also congratulated officers for their "heroic work saving the United States of America".

In an internal email seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Cllr Harrison sent a notice to staff saying: "Dear all, you may be aware of social media posts by Cllr Joseph Boam and Cllr Michael Squires.

"I am aware that some staff will have been upset by the posts, and I wanted to address that directly.

"These messages were posted without my knowledge or blessing. It is not appropriate for county councillors to get involved in or comment publicly on what is a serious matter for the US government.

"We only know what is reported in the media, and that is a fast-moving contradictory picture. The views of Councillors Boam and Squires do not reflect my views or the Reform group at Leicestershire County Council".

A statement from Dan Harrison to the LDRS also said: "I'm aware that the posts have caused upset and concern.

"The messages were posted without my knowledge or blessing and it is not appropriate for county councillors to get involved in or comment publicly on what is a serious matter for the US government."

The LDRS asked if any action had been taken against Cllrs Boam and Squires, but a council spokesperson said they could not discuss the matter further due to confidentiality reasons.

The posts sparked much criticism from other politicians, with Cllr Deborah Taylor, leader of the Conservative group at Leicestershire County Council, saying the posts were "unacceptable".

She said: "For two Leicestershire County councillors to respond to those deaths by publicly expressing support for the organisation involved is not only shocking – it is utterly unacceptable.

"The leader of Leicestershire County Council has acknowledged this and has rightly condemned the posts made by Cllrs Boam and Squires. But words without action are meaningless. Mr Squires remains in cabinet. Neither he nor Mr Boam has had the whip removed.

"The refusal to take even basic disciplinary steps speaks volumes. This is not a minor issue. Standards in public life are not optional. They are not negotiable. They are not something to be applied only when politically convenient."

Federal agents shot dead 37-year-old nurse Mr Pretti on Saturday, January 24, during protests against President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

US officials said that they deployed "defensive shots" at Mr Pretti after he "violently resisted" after approaching them with a handgun. Police confirmed that Mr Pretti was a legal gun owner who could legally carry a concealed handgun in public.

Two agents have since been put on leave while the shooting is investigated, according to the US Customs and Border Protection.

It comes weeks after the death of Renee Nicole Good, who was also shot by an immigration agent on January 7.

Cllr Boam later deleted his post and told the LDRS that he felt it was "ill-timed" and "unfortunate" that he supported "the enforcement of immigration law" and that it was a "clearly an opportunistic attack" from critics.

Cllr Squires said he did not wish to comment when approached.

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READ MORE: Reform councillors told to 'get on with the job' after ICE posts

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