1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I'm a constituent and a voter. I’m writing today to let you know I think Democrats have the upper hand and must act accordingly to save Democracy in relation to ICE’s Big Ugly Slush Fund and a possible government shutdown. Democratic demands described in media reports are woefully inadequate to rein in a lawless agency. Requiring ICE and Border Patrol to follow the Constitution and adhere to minimum standards of police practice is distressingly short of what Democrats should obtain in negotiations to fund an out of control agency and the Republican party. Nothing they say or agree to is to be trusted. The American people have learned that lesson over and over, most recently in the Epstein file release law. I hope you have finally learned this lesson, too. Democrats must drastically cut ICE’s budget. For an agency seriously underperforming, this is a no-brainer. As a condition of any funding for DHS, reform must be required. For starters: Kristi Noem should be fired & replaced with a competent, experienced leader. DHS willfully ignores court orders and has invaded a foreign consulate in Minnesota, a clear violation of American and international law. At her direction, agents are deploying weapons, including tear gas, flash bangs and rubber bullets. These must be outlawed. No exceptions should be allowed for security clearances and high-quality training. Training must focus on de-escalation and the use-of-force continuum. Additionally, every current ICE employee who skipped security clearances and received shortened training should be fired and forced to reapply, no exceptions. Lawyers who drafted the memo saying DHS agents could break into homes without a judicial warrant should be fired. Investigations into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti should be at minimum referred to an independent special counsel. The State of Minnesota should be given complete access to all evidence relating to the killings. Agents should not be allowed to work with guns drawn, without clear identification, working body cameras and standard uniforms, no blue jeans or masks allowed. Many more measures must be implemented to justify funding. If Republicans won’t agree to those measures, then defund DHS, permanently. It was created to focus on public safety threats after the 9/11 terror attacks and has outlived its usefulness in a democracy governed by the Constitution and the rule of law. The time is now to save Democracy in the United States. Democrats must press their advantage to make up as much ground as quickly as possible or kiss this country goodbye. Don’t revert to “regular order” and senatorial deference to those who support a murderous, rogue agency and administration. Innocent American citizens were executed in public. Long-standing laws, policies and procedures are being violated hourly. American citizens should not have to show passports or any other “papers” to prove citizenship. Immigrants following standard practice and procedures are being cruelly detained and deported. Most detainees have no criminal record. The American people understand clearly that Democracy is at stake. Democratic Senators must act boldly and courageously now. Those who capitulate do not deserve to be Democratic Senators. The time for half-measures and accommodation has passed. A government shutdown may be the price we have to pay to achieve a greater good.