1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose any funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement in light of the fatal shooting by federal agents in south Minneapolis on January 24. According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara, a man was shot multiple times by federal agents on Nicollet Avenue near West 26th Street after agents wrestled him to the ground. Video footage of this incident exists, and the circumstances demand immediate accountability. This shooting occurred during a broader federal immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota that has raised serious concerns about civil liberties and public safety. A 2-year-old child was detained and separated from her mother earlier in the week. Witnesses are disputing federal claims that a 5-year-old was "abandoned" by his father before both were detained in Columbia Heights. These are not the actions of an agency that deserves continued taxpayer support. The operation has also targeted legal refugees through Operation PARRIS, which is now the subject of a class action lawsuit. Federal agents are subjecting Minnesota's legal refugees to "re-examination" despite their lawful status. This represents a fundamental betrayal of our commitment to people who followed proper legal channels and built lives in our communities. ICE has demonstrated that it cannot conduct enforcement operations without endangering children, violating civil rights, and now taking a life on our streets. The agency's leadership, including Border Patrol Commander at Large Greg Bovino and assistant ICE director Marcos Charles, has focused on defending their narrative rather than addressing the harm their operations are causing to Minnesota families and communities. I urge you to vote against any appropriations that would fund ICE operations. The events in Minneapolis this week make clear that this agency poses a threat to public safety and human dignity. Our tax dollars should not support an organization that separates toddlers from parents and uses lethal force during immigration enforcement.