1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

The January 30 government funding deadline presents a critical opportunity to reduce ICE funding and prevent further violence like the killing of Renee Good by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis. With Republicans needing Democratic votes to pass a spending bill in the Senate, where 60 votes are required, Democrats have real leverage right now to demand accountability. ICE's budget is set to balloon to $170 billion following passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, making it one of the largest paramilitary forces in the United States with zero accountability. While Congress cut a trillion dollars to Americans' healthcare, it exploded funding for an agency whose approval rating currently sits at negative 13 points. This is not what constituents want. Public support for abolishing ICE has increased by 20 percentage points in just one year. Video evidence contradicted the Trump administration's claim that the ICE agent who killed Renee Good acted in self-defense, yet there has been no meaningful accountability. As Sen. Chris Murphy questioned, how can Democrats provide votes for a bill that funds this level of depravity? Statements and letters are not enough when ICE operates as what Rep. Pramila Jayapal accurately described as a rogue force of illegal killers. The appropriations process and the continuing resolution expiring January 31 is the mechanism to act. I urge you to use this leverage to demand significant cuts to ICE funding and strict limitations on the agency's ability to bring violence to our communities. If that means another government shutdown, so be it. Funding an agency that shoots US citizens in the head while terrorizing immigrant communities is not acceptable, and constituents expect you to oppose it with every tool available. The time to act is now, before this deadline passes and another opportunity for accountability is lost.