1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to vote against any government funding package that includes Department of Homeland Security appropriations without meaningful reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis while he was filming their activities represents an unacceptable escalation that demands immediate congressional action. The current DHS funding bill is inadequate to address ICE's pattern of abuses. While I understand concerns about a potential government shutdown before the January 30 deadline, voting for this bill would not actually constrain ICE operations. As Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro noted, ICE already received $75 billion through the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act and could sustain regular operations for multiple years even during a funding lapse. Passing this appropriations bill without accountability measures would simply rubber-stamp an agency operating without sufficient oversight. I recognize that other DHS agencies like FEMA, the Coast Guard, and TSA would face operational challenges during a funding gap. However, the solution is not to abandon accountability for ICE but to demand that Republicans negotiate in good faith on reforms that ensure transparency and prevent further violence against American citizens and law-abiding immigrants. Senators from both Nevada and Virginia have already announced opposition to the current bill, recognizing that what is happening in our cities is not about keeping Americans safe but about federal overreach. The Senate requires 60 votes to proceed with this appropriations bill. Your vote is critical to ensuring that any DHS funding includes guardrails to curtail abuses of power. I urge you to stand with Senate Democrats in refusing to provide votes for this bill until meaningful ICE accountability measures are included. The American people deserve federal agencies that operate within constitutional bounds and respect the rights of citizens and immigrants alike.