Demand for Accountability, Oversight, and Reform of ICE and DHS

I am writing to demand immediate and substantive action from Congress in response to the pattern of federal immigration enforcement violence and lack of accountability, most recently exemplified by the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026.  Good’s death — and multiple other fatal and excessive force incidents involving ICE and related federal agents in recent months — is not an isolated occurrence. Reports indicate at least several other people have been shot at or killed by ICE or Border Patrol agents during enforcement operations, raising urgent questions about use-of-force practices, transparency, and federal oversight.  Public outrage and peaceful protests have spread nationwide under banners such as “ICE Out For Good,” explicitly calling for accountability, a full and independent investigation into these incidents, and an end to the terrorizing of communities by federal immigration agents.  Congressional leadership must act by supporting the following: 1 Independent, Transparent, and Inclusive Investigations Every deadly use of force by ICE, Border Patrol, or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents should be investigated independently of federal law enforcement, with local and state participation and public release of evidence and findings. 2 Policy Reform and Clear Use-of-Force Standards Congress must mandate enforceable limits on use of force, require body-worn cameras and clear reporting protocols for all federal immigration operations, and prohibit tactics that consistently escalate encounters into deadly force. 3 Appropriate Funding Restrictions on ICE and DHS Enforcement Operations Federal appropriations should be conditioned on demonstrable compliance with human rights, transparent reporting, and measurable reductions in aggressive enforcement practices that have harmed U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. 4 Accountability of DHS Leadership, Including Consideration of Impeachment DHS leadership, including Secretary Kristi Noem, has publicly defended the most recent shooting and resisted transparent oversight. Where evidence shows misconduct, abuse of power, or failure to uphold constitutional rights, Congress should pursue accountability up to and including impeachment. These demands are grounded in documented patterns of behavior, mounting public protest, and bipartisan concerns about unchecked federal force in local communities. Congress must exercise its constitutional oversight and appropriations authority now.