1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the Department of Homeland Security funding bill in its current form and demand meaningful accountability reforms before providing any votes to proceed. The fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents in Minnesota represent a fundamental breakdown in oversight that cannot be rewarded with continued funding. Alex Pretti was a 37-year-old intensive care unit nurse who was shot and killed by federal agents on Saturday. Earlier this month, Renee Good, a mother of three, was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis. Federal officials have defended both shootings as justified, but video evidence released from both incidents contradicts these claims. These are American citizens killed by their own government, and the current funding bill contains no provisions to prevent this from happening again. I support the reforms that Senate Democrats have proposed for the DHS spending bill. These include requiring ICE agents to use warrants for immigration arrests, mandating strengthened training, requiring agents to identify themselves, and keeping Border Patrol agents on the border rather than conducting immigration raids in the interior. These are common sense measures that would bring basic accountability to agencies that are currently operating with impunity. Senator Patty Murray stated that "Federal agents cannot murder people in broad daylight and face zero consequences." I agree completely. Congress cannot fund a department that kills American citizens without accountability. Even some Republican senators, including Bill Cassidy and Thom Tillis, have called for thorough investigations into the Minneapolis shootings, acknowledging how disturbing these events are. The funding deadline is Friday at midnight. I urge you to stand with Senate Democrats in refusing to advance this bill until real reforms are included. The other five appropriations bills can move forward separately, but DHS funding must be contingent on accountability measures that protect American lives.