1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

I am writing to express deep outrage and profound disappointment at the continued willingness of Democratic leadership to accept limited reforms and symbolic concessions while ICE and DHS continue policies that are costing lives, undermining civil liberties, and spreading fear in our communities. Recent negotiations in the Senate that preserve funding for ICE while offering only vague or unenforceable reforms are not enough. Democrats cannot continue to threaten action only to retreat without securing meaningful structural change. At this moment, Congress must use the leverage it has — however limited — to demand real outcomes. Anything less signals complicity. The killings of Alex Pretti and Rene Nicole Good represent a moral and political breaking point. Reports indicate that federal investigations have been opened into the killing of Alex Pretti, underscoring the seriousness of the incident and the urgent need for transparency and accountability. These deaths cannot be allowed to fade into bureaucratic silence or partisan spin. Congress must act decisively to ensure justice and prevent further tragedy. I urge you to take the following actions immediately: • Reject any legislation that provides additional funding for ICE or DHS without major structural change and enforceable accountability measures. No Democratic votes should support expanding or sustaining abusive systems. • Hold immediate congressional hearings into ICE and DHS operations, including the killings of Alex Pretti and Rene Nicole Good, the spread of misinformation about victims and observers, and the broader pattern of excessive force. • Compel DHS and ICE leadership to testify under oath before Congress regarding operational practices, use-of-force policies, and public communications. • Ensure independent investigations with full access for state authorities, preservation of all evidence, and public transparency. • Demand accountability for individual agents involved where misconduct or unlawful use of force is found. No federal officer should feel immune from consequences for taking a life. • End the rapid expansion of detention facilities that function as modern mass-detention systems incompatible with democratic values. • Advance legislation to dismantle ICE and fundamentally restructure DHS, replacing enforcement-first approaches with humane, lawful immigration systems. • Protect the rights of observers, journalists, and protestors, and stop the dangerous practice of labeling dissent as “domestic terrorism.” Polling and public sentiment make clear that Americans are increasingly alarmed by unchecked enforcement actions and escalating federal power. If Democratic leaders want to demonstrate that they can defend democratic values and human rights, now is the time to prove it through action — not rhetoric. Government funding should not continue without meaningful reform. If necessary, Democrats must be willing to withhold support and force a confrontation to stop policies that endanger our neighbors and erode constitutional protections. Honor the memories of Alex Pretti and Rene Nicole Good by ensuring that their deaths lead to real accountability and lasting change. History will judge whether this moment was met with courage or capitulation. I urge you to choose courage.