Republicans in the United States Senate announced plans to advance legislation this week that includes an allocation of $10 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This decision comes in the wake of a tragic incident in Minneapolis, where intensive-care nurse Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a federal agent. The incident, which was recorded from multiple angles, has sparked outrage and calls for accountability.
“My support for funding ICE remains the same,” stated Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE), reflecting sentiments shared by other Republican lawmakers. As the Senate prepares to vote on a package of six appropriations bills, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) emphasized, “We’re not defunding ICE. Live with it.”
According to a Senate Republican aide, government funding is set to expire at the end of the week, prompting Republicans to push forward with their plans for the funding package. “We will move forward as planned and hope Democrats can find a path forward to join us,” the aide stated.
Funding Controversy and Legislative Dynamics
One of the bills under consideration would allocate $64.4 billion to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with a significant portion earmarked for ICE. Critics point out that ICE’s budget already exceeds that of many national militaries. Last summer, congressional Republicans and former President Donald Trump approved an additional $170 billion for immigration enforcement, which has led to increased spending on weaponry.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reportedly has enough support within his caucus to block the DHS funding bill. Senate Democrats have proposed separating the DHS legislation from other appropriations to facilitate discussions on necessary reforms. “Federal agents cannot murder people in broad daylight and face zero consequences,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), who serves as the Democrats’ top appropriator in the Senate.
Murray asserted her opposition to the current DHS bill, stating, “I will NOT support the DHS bill as it stands. The DHS bill needs to be split off from the larger funding package before the Senate.” She emphasized that blocking this funding will not eliminate ICE’s operations, as the agency currently has access to a substantial reserve of funds.
Calls for Accountability and Reform
In light of Pretti’s death, Murray called for accountability, stressing that “there must be consequences” for such actions. “We all saw another American shot and killed in broad daylight,” she added.
Public interest groups have voiced their concerns over the proposed funding. Lisa Gilbert, co-president of the watchdog group Public Citizen, criticized ICE’s budget, stating, “This federal enforcement agency is running rampant with an outrageous budget that dwarfs most countries’ militaries.” Gilbert urged the Senate to withdraw any additional funding for DHS in the current spending bill, emphasizing the need for Congressional Republicans to address the implications of their support for ICE’s operations.
Additionally, Amy Fischer, director for refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International USA, questioned the government’s inaction. “How many more people must die before US leaders act?” she asked. Fischer highlighted the urgency for the Senate to choose between continuing to funnel taxpayer dollars into an agency perceived as lawless or taking meaningful action to reform ICE.
As the Senate prepares for deliberations, the growing tension surrounding ICE funding and its implications on public safety remains at the forefront of political discourse. The outcome of this funding package may have lasting effects on immigration enforcement and accountability measures within federal agencies.
