1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I am a constituent writing to demand that Congress exercise its Article I oversight and appropriations authority to investigate all deaths resulting from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and to impose enforceable statutory limits on the agency it created and continues to fund. ICE is an administrative agency established by Congress. Congress defines its mandate, authorizes its enforcement powers, and appropriates its funding. When ICE engages in armed street operations and uses lethal force without clear statutory constraints or independent accountability, that failure rests with Congress. This governance failure is no longer theoretical. The killing of U.S. citizen Renée Nicole Good during an ICE enforcement operation demonstrates the danger of allowing an administrative agency to conduct armed enforcement actions without a clear legal framework governing use of force, independent review, and public accountability. Administrative immigration enforcement was never intended to function as open-ended, lethal policing authority. Congress cannot allow ICE to investigate itself when loss of life occurs. I am asking you to state your position and take action on the following: • Will you support legislation requiring mandatory, independent investigations of all deaths and serious injuries resulting from ICE operations, conducted by entities such as the DOJ Civil Rights Division, an independent special counsel, or an Inspector General with subpoena power? • Will you support public reporting requirements for ICE use-of-force incidents, investigative findings, and disciplinary outcomes? • Will you support statutory limits on ICE’s armed enforcement authority, including clear rules governing when force may be used during administrative actions? • Will you oppose future ICE funding unless compliance with constitutional standards, independent oversight, and enforceable accountability mechanisms is established? Oversight is not optional. When Congress fails to regulate agencies it creates and funds, it enables predictable harm while evading responsibility for the consequences. I expect a public response outlining your position and the specific legislative or oversight actions you will pursue. I will be tracking your response and your voting record on ICE oversight and appropriations.