1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the Department of Homeland Security funding bill until Immigration and Customs Enforcement is defunded. The Senate's failure to advance the six-bill funding package on Thursday, with a 45-55 vote, demonstrates that there is significant opposition to continuing ICE operations without fundamental change. The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by federal agents has made clear that reform is insufficient. ICE has repeatedly demonstrated that it cannot be trusted with the power it currently wields. While some Democrats are calling for reforms like body cameras, warrant requirements, and use-of-force rules, these measures do not address the core problem. ICE's mission itself is fundamentally flawed, and no amount of oversight will change that. The agency has a documented history of civil rights violations, family separations, and operating with impunity. Adding body cameras or banning masks will not prevent the next Alex Pretti tragedy when the underlying enforcement model remains unchanged. The only meaningful solution is to eliminate ICE funding entirely and redirect those resources toward humane immigration processing and community-based alternatives to detention. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that Democrats will not support the DHS funding bill until ICE is properly reined in and overhauled legislatively. I urge you to go further and demand complete defunding. The current fiscal year 2026 appropriations process provides a critical opportunity to take this stand. I understand this position may complicate passage of the funding package, but that is precisely the point. ICE should not receive another dollar of taxpayer money to continue its harmful operations. I ask that you vote against any DHS funding bill that includes ICE appropriations and publicly advocate for defunding this agency.