1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose the six-bill government funding package that includes Department of Homeland Security appropriations and to support a government shutdown if necessary to force accountability reforms for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The killing of a 37-year-old Minneapolis resident by federal agents on Saturday represents a breaking point. This tragedy demands immediate action, not business as usual. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced that Democrats will block the appropriations bill if it includes DHS funding, and I strongly support this position. Several Democratic senators who previously supported funding measures under President Trump have reversed their positions following this shooting. Sen. Brian Schatz, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, and Sen. Jacky Rosen have all announced they will oppose DHS funding until greater accountability measures are implemented for ICE and Border Patrol. More than half of the 47-member Democratic caucus has pledged to oppose the package, with numbers growing daily. The DHS bill passed the House on Thursday with only seven Democrats supporting it in a 220-207 vote. This near-unanimous Democratic opposition reflects the urgent need for reform. While temporary funding expires at midnight Friday for departments representing more than 75% of federal discretionary spending, some issues are more important than avoiding a shutdown. I support the approach suggested by Sen. Jack Reed to pass the other five bipartisan bills while providing only short-term funding for DHS to allow time for debate on ICE reforms. If Republicans refuse this compromise, then a shutdown is the appropriate response. Funding ICE without accountability measures after this shooting would be unconscionable. I ask you to vote against any package that includes full DHS funding and to stand firm on demanding ICE accountability reforms, even if it means a government shutdown.