1. United States
2. Wisc.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose any funding for the Department of Homeland Security that includes appropriations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal officers in Minneapolis demonstrate that ICE operates outside the accountability standards we expect from law enforcement agencies. No temporary funding extension should proceed without completely defunding ICE operations. The current funding bill provides DHS with only two weeks of funding through February 13, creating a critical decision point. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has correctly stated that "dramatic change" is needed to ensure DHS agencies conduct themselves like other law enforcement organizations. I believe that change must be the complete elimination of ICE funding. While 96% of the federal government is now funded through September 30, the remaining 4% represented by DHS should not receive any appropriations that allow ICE to continue its current operations. Speaker Mike Johnson has called this "a very important 4%," and he is right. This is our opportunity to fundamentally restructure immigration enforcement to protect people rather than harm them. I understand concerns about a potential shutdown if agreement is not reached by February 13. However, the disruption caused by a shutdown pales in comparison to the ongoing harm caused by ICE operations. Federal shutdowns create inconvenience and economic uncertainty, but they do not result in the loss of life that we have witnessed from immigration enforcement actions. I am prepared to accept the consequences of a shutdown if that is what it takes to defund ICE. I ask you to stand firm in opposing any DHS funding package that includes ICE appropriations, even if negotiations extend past the February 13 deadline. The protection of people in our communities must take precedence over political expediency or concerns about government operations.