1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I am writing to demand immediate action following two fatal shootings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minneapolis within weeks of each other. On January 7, ICE officers killed 37-year-old Renee Good when an officer fired into her vehicle. Now, federal immigration officers have killed a 51-year-old man just over a mile from where Good was shot. These deaths represent a pattern of lethal force that requires urgent congressional intervention. The Minneapolis community has responded with widespread daily protests throughout the Twin Cities since Good's death. When hundreds of protesters gathered at the scene of the second shooting, federal officers mocked grieving community members, with one officer saying "Boo hoo" as he walked away. Federal agents were also observed shoving protesters into cars. This contempt for public accountability demonstrates an agency operating without meaningful oversight or consequences. ICE has become an enforcement apparatus that operates with impunity in American communities. Two deaths in one city within weeks cannot be dismissed as isolated incidents. The Department of Homeland Security's release of a photo showing a handgun allegedly found on the second victim does not justify the use of lethal force, nor does it address the broader pattern of violence or the circumstances surrounding Good's death. I am calling on you to take two specific actions. First, introduce or co-sponsor legislation to abolish ICE and transfer any necessary immigration enforcement functions to agencies with proper oversight and accountability mechanisms. Second, publicly demand that the Department of Justice open criminal investigations into both Minneapolis shootings and prosecute any officers who violated federal law or civil rights statutes. Minneapolis residents deserve safety from federal agents operating in their neighborhoods. These families deserve justice. I expect you to use your position to ensure both outcomes and will be closely monitoring your response to this crisis.