1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I write to you with profound concern following the widely reported fatal shooting of Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old American citizen and ICU nurse, by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 24, 2026. This tragic incident — one of multiple recent uses of deadly force by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and related federal agents — raises serious constitutional questions that demand legislative action, including reconsideration of federal funding for ICE.  1. Violation of First Amendment Rights — Freedom of Speech and Peaceful Assembly Video evidence and witness accounts show that Pretti was filming and peacefully observing an enforcement operation when he was confronted by agents. Rather than protecting citizens’ rights to document government action — a practice historically upheld as a vital check on power — officers escalated the encounter into a violent confrontation. This raises serious concerns about whether ICE agents, as currently funded and structured, respect or suppress the constitutional rights of Americans to peaceably assemble, express dissent, and record government agents in public spaces.  2. Violation of Second Amendment Rights — Lawful Gun Ownership Reports indicate that Mr. Pretti was a lawful gun owner in a state where open carry with a permit is authorized. Videos from the scene suggest that he was holding a cellphone — not a weapon — at the time federal agents pepper-sprayed and tackled him. Whether or not a weapon was recovered after he was physically restrained, the sequence of events as publicly documented casts doubt on the necessity and proportionality of deadly force against a legally armed citizen who posed no imminent threat. The manner in which this encounter unfolded suggests a troubling disregard for the Second Amendment rights of peaceful citizens and lawful gun owners.  3. Violation of Fourth Amendment Rights — Unreasonable Searches and Seizures The Fourth Amendment protects all Americans against unreasonable seizures and excessive use of force. Multiple videos and eyewitness accounts show that Pretti was tackled, pepper-sprayed, and then shot repeatedly by federal agents, even while under physical control. Moreover, reports indicate that local authorities were impeded from securing the scene and independent investigators were blocked from accessing critical evidence — actions that undermine transparency and due process. Such conduct erodes public trust in federal agencies and raises profound constitutional questions about enforcement practices that may amount to unreasonable and lethal seizures absent clear exigent circumstances.  Why Defunding ICE Matters As elected conservatives, you have championed constitutional rights, limited government, and accountability for federal agencies. However, when a federal agency repeatedly engages in actions that appear to contradict these principles — particularly when that agency’s actions result in the death of law-abiding citizens — serious legislative reconsideration is justified. The Pretti killing is not an isolated event; it follows other controversial uses of force by federal immigration agents that have sparked nationwide protests and calls for reform.  Defunding or restructuring ICE — redirecting resources toward agencies with clearer oversight, accountability, and respect for constitutional liberties — would signal to all Americans that the U.S. Congress prioritizes upholding the Constitution above partisan policy objectives. It would also restore confidence among citizens that federal power will not be wielded with impunity against the people it exists to serve. I urge you to consider supporting legislation to halt or reduce funding for ICE operations until comprehensive reforms are enacted that ensure constitutional protections are honored in every community across our nation.