1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

I am writing as a constituent to urge active congressional oversight regarding recent federal law enforcement actions carried out by DHS, ICE, and U.S. Border Patrol in civilian communities. In January 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and intensive care nurse employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot and killed by a federal Border Patrol agent during immigration enforcement activity in Minneapolis. Reporting by major news organizations indicates that there are conflicting accounts of the circumstances surrounding his death, raising serious questions about the necessity, proportionality, and transparency of the use of force by federal agents. This killing, along with other recent enforcement actions in residential neighborhoods, has heightened public concern about the scope of federal authority and the safeguards in place to protect civilians who are not the subjects of enforcement. Additional reporting has described the use of crowd-control measures in residential areas that exposed families with young children to law enforcement tactics intended for volatile situations, further underscoring the need for accountability and clarity around federal operations conducted in civilian settings. I respectfully urge Congress to exercise its oversight authority by requesting formal briefings and documentation from DHS, ICE, and U.S. Border Patrol regarding the planning, authorization, and execution of these operations, including use-of-force policies, training standards, and internal review processes. I also urge consideration of hearings by the appropriate committees to examine whether current practices comply with federal law and constitutional protections, and whether legislative clarification or additional accountability mechanisms are needed to prevent harm to uninvolved civilians. Congressional oversight is essential when federal law enforcement actions result in the loss of civilian life and when public trust depends on transparency, accountability, and clearly defined limits on the use of force. I would appreciate any information you can share regarding steps being taken or considered to address these concerns.