Several Senate Democrats oppose the DHS funding bill following fatal federal shootings in Minneapolis, citing the need for accountability and reforms in ICE and Border Patrol operations.
Democrats Oppose DHS Funding Bill Following Minneapolis Federal Shootings
Several Senate Democrats voiced strong opposition to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill on Saturday after another fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis. The vote on the $64.4 billion government funding package, which includes roughly $10 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is set for next week.
Alex Jeffrey Pretti: Man Killed by ICE Agents in Minnesota
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) criticized the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement, saying on the social platform X that “this brutal crackdown has to end” and pledging not to support DHS funding while violent federal operations continue in U.S. cities.
The Minneapolis incident involved a resident who was shot and killed during an alleged confrontation with Border Patrol agents, near the location where 37-year-old Renée Good was previously fatally shot by ICE officer Jonathan Ross. In a separate encounter, a Venezuelan migrant sustained injuries after allegedly striking a federal officer with a tool.
Despite the inclusion of targeted reforms in the DHS funding bill—such as reduced ICE enforcement funding, fewer detention beds, and cuts to Border Patrol resources—Democratic leaders expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the bill does not sufficiently restrain federal immigration operations or ensure accountability for officer conduct.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) declared a firm rejection of the bill, stating on X, “I’m a h-ll no — not a penny more for ICE. We should not fund this terror.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also urged Democratic colleagues to oppose the measure, citing the recent federal shootings as evidence that oversight and accountability are urgently needed.
Other Democrats joining the opposition include Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), both of whom emphasized the need for strict controls and transparency over ICE operations before they would support funding. Rosen highlighted the “abuses of power” occurring under current immigration enforcement policies, while Schatz described repeated incidents of violence by federal agents as “unlawful” and “needlessly escalatory.”
The controversy comes as lawmakers attempt to pass a series of funding bills to prevent a partial government shutdown, a process now complicated by winter storms and rising bipartisan tension over DHS appropriations.
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