Congress Must Act Now To Curb ICE Abuses

Congress Must Act Now to Prevent Further Harm I am writing to urge Congress to take immediate legislative action through the Department of Homeland Security appropriations process to curb ICE practices endangering public safety, violating civil liberties, and showing a troubling pattern of force without accountability. The fatal shooting of U.S. citizen Renée Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, is not an isolated tragedy - it is a warning sign that congressional intervention is required. A Dangerous Shift Toward Militarized Federal Policing ICE and Border Patrol agents are increasingly being deployed in cities in ways that resemble military operations rather than law enforcement. Civil rights organizations and community members report dragnet-style stops, unlawful arrests, racial and linguistic profiling, and the use of masked agents in tactical gear. These practices foster fear and erode constitutional protections. Deadly Consequences of a System Without Oversight The killing of Good - a 37-year-old U.S. citizen - sparked protests and national outrage. Federal authorities claim the shooting was justified as self-defense, but local officials and eyewitnesses dispute that account. When federal agencies investigate themselves, public confidence collapses. Without independent oversight, lethal force becomes easier to use and harder to challenge. Militarized Enforcement Undermines Public Safety Militarized immigration enforcement does not make communities safer. It undermines trust. When agents operate without clear limits, mistakes become tragedies that damage the legitimacy of the justice system itself. Legislative Reforms That Cannot Wait Congress has the authority and responsibility to act now. I urge you to include the following requirements in the upcoming Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill and related legislative vehicles: End the Use of Lethal Weapons in Civil Immigration Enforcement • Prohibit ICE and Border Patrol agents from carrying firearms during civil immigration enforcement operations. Restore Legal Accountability for Federal Agents • Clarify by statute that ICE and Border Patrol agents do not enjoy absolute immunity when they injure or kill civilians, and that they remain subject to civil and criminal liability. Ban Dragnet Operations and Profiling • Prohibit funding for dragnet-style enforcement actions and for operations based on race, accent, language, or appearance. Require Independent Investigations of Federal Use of Force • Mandate independent investigations of all use-of-force incidents involving federal agents, with full cooperation from state and local authorities.