1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I urge you to vote against any spending measure that includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security until meaningful reforms are implemented. The killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen, by federal agents in Minneapolis demands immediate congressional action. This is the second recent killing of a U.S. citizen by federal agents in that city, demonstrating a pattern that cannot be ignored. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has correctly stated that ICE must be "reined in and overhauled" and that "the fix should come from Congress." The public cannot trust the administration to act appropriately on its own. I agree with this position and believe that Congress must use its constitutional power of the purse to force accountability. The current spending package allocates more than $1.2 trillion for the fiscal year ending September 30, and it requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. Democrats hold the leverage necessary to demand that DHS funding be stripped from this bill. While I understand concerns about a potential shutdown beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET Saturday, this moment requires principled action. DHS would largely operate without interruption during a shutdown due to the roughly $178 billion in funding provided through last year's "One Big Beautiful Bill" law, which can be tapped to continue immigration operations. This means that removing DHS funding from the current package would not immediately halt operations but would send a clear message that Congress will not continue business as usual after the death of American citizens at the hands of federal agents. I ask that you stand with Senate Democrats in voting no on any legislation that funds DHS until comprehensive reforms are enacted. Congressional oversight and accountability are essential, and this is the moment to exercise that authority.