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

The fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis demands more than condemnation. It requires immediate action to defund an agency operating with zero accountability. When House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer held a press conference following this killing, they called it an abomination but refused to commit to reducing ICE funding if Democrats regain the majority in November. This evasion is unacceptable. Republicans just increased ICE's budget to $170 billion in the recent "One Big, Beautiful Bill," making it one of the largest paramilitary forces in the United States. The current appropriations include $29.9 billion for ICE enforcement operations, with funding to recruit 10,000 new agents. These agents are being deployed as political weapons, as evidenced by President Trump's targeting of Minneapolis's Somali-American community just hours after House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said "send them home" regarding Somalis. Some Democrats understand what is required. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated clearly that Democrats should push for reducing funding. Rep. Kelly Morrison said reducing funding or accountability measures "has to be on the table." Sen. Ruben Gallego noted that ICE is "more designed to be an arm of the president than it is to actually create law enforcement" and indicated Democrats could use appropriations to address this crisis. If Democratic leadership wins back the House in November, they will control ICE funding through the annual Homeland Security appropriations bill. I expect you to use that power. Renee Good's blood is on the hands of those who fund this agency without accountability. Rep. Ilhan Omar said it plainly: "When you give people with guns impunity, dangerous things take place." I am asking you to commit publicly to reducing ICE funding and implementing strict accountability measures. If current leadership refuses to take this concrete action, they should be replaced by representatives willing to protect constituents from state violence.