1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to reject any Department of Homeland Security funding package that does not include comprehensive immigration enforcement reforms with immediate implementation and clear accountability measures. The recent shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis demonstrate that half measures and delayed action are unacceptable. Secretary Kristi Noem announced on February 2, 2026, that DHS officers in Minneapolis will receive body-worn cameras, with nationwide expansion "as funding becomes available." This vague timeline is inadequate. ICE already received nearly $30 billion for enforcement and removal operations in last summer's funding measure, including information technology spending. As Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council noted, that amount "buys a lot of body cameras." The funding exists. What is missing is the political will to implement reforms immediately. The deaths of ICU nurse Alex Pretti and 37-year-old mother of three Renee Good expose the urgent need for accountability. Secretary Noem initially claimed Pretti "came with a weapon and dozens of rounds of ammunition and attacked" officers, but multiple videos showed he had only his mobile phone when officers tackled him and shot him in the back. Four Customs and Border Protection officers wore body cameras at that scene, yet the footage remains hidden from public view. This pattern of misleading statements followed by suppressed evidence cannot continue. The bipartisan Senate funding package includes $20 million for body cameras, but this represents only a fraction of what comprehensive reform requires. I urge you to vote against any funding bill that does not mandate immediate nationwide body camera deployment with public release protocols, independent oversight mechanisms, and clear consequences for officers who provide false statements about enforcement actions. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz correctly stated that cameras should have been worn "long before officers killed two Americans." Congress must use its appropriations authority to demand real reform with enforceable deadlines, not aspirational goals dependent on future funding. Our communities deserve protection from both unauthorized immigration and unchecked federal power.