‘Hold the Line’: Some Democrats Call On Senators to Block DHS Funding Bill After Minneapolis Shooting

Dozens of Democratic lawmakers across the country renewed calls for accountability at the Department of Homeland Security after a federal agent shot and killed another person in Minneapolis on Saturday.

Some also made clear their willingness to block funding to DHS when it comes up for a vote in the Senate next week.

“When is enough enough? They fired bullets into his body even after he was clearly motionless,” Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego posted, sharing a bystander video of the shooting. “This is not what the American people voted for. I will do everything I can to get these goon squads out of our communities and hold them accountable — starting by not voting to give them another dime.”

Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen, too, called ICE “out of control” and urged Congress to take action.

“It’s hard to see how deadly use of force was in any way justified,” Rosen posted. “ICE is out of control, and they need to be reined in NOW. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to hold this Administration accountable and stop these blatant abuses of people’s fundamental rights.”

A federal agent killed a 37-year-old white man, who local law enforcement said was a Minneapolis resident. The Trump administration said the federal agent shot the man defensively while attempting to carry out an immigration enforcement operation. DHS said the man was armed and sent NOTUS a photo of a handgun. Bystander videos show the man filming the federal agents with his phone, and federal agents holding him to the ground before gunshots can be heard in the recording.

The shooting comes almost three weeks after a federal agent shot and killed another Minneapolis resident, 37-year-old Renee Good.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said the responsibility lies with “Donald Trump’s extremists” who “have unleashed this carnage on the streets of America.”

“They must all be held criminally accountable to the full extent of the law,” Jeffries posted Saturday.

Last week, the House passed an appropriations bill for DHS, which continues funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and includes funding for body cameras, but also cuts to some removal operations and detention beds. Jeffries joined the vast majority of House Democrats in voting against the DHS funding bill.

The Senate is set to consider the bill, among other appropriations packages, next week. The bill needs Democratic votes in order to pass.

After Saturday’s shooting, several Democratic senators made clear they were not interested in funding the agency.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren said, “I’m a hell no,” when it comes to next week’s vote.

“Not a penny more for ICE,” she posted. “We should not fund this terror.”

“Congress must cut-off funding for these heinous acts NOW!” Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen posted.

Minnesota Democrat Rep. Angie Craig called on Senate Democrats to “hold the line” when they vote on DHS’ funding next week.

“This is the time for Senate Dems to hold the line and withhold funding from this lawless agency,” Craig posted. “Enough is enough. Shut DHS down.”

Not all Senate Democrats brought up DHS funding, however. Several Democrats demanded that Trump remove ICE from Minneapolis and called for an investigation. Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin called the shooting “another totally unnecessary tragedy.”

“These masked, armed, and untrained ICE agents are totally out of control and making Minneapolis less safe,” Baldwin posted. “This has all gone too far, and the President needs to put an end to this. Get ICE out of Minneapolis.”

“This looks like an execution,” Washington Sen. Patty Murray, who helped negotiate the DHS funding bill, said in a post. “There must be an investigation. There must be accountability.”

“The President is escalating the situation—and I have no faith he will stop,” Murray continued. “The Republican Congress must join us to end this. Enough.”

Lawmakers also reiterated their concerns about the agency’s leadership under Secretary Kristi Noem.

“The entire Trump White House is complicit. Every Member of Congress who voted for a massive increase in ICE funding last summer is complicit,” Rep. Sean Casten posted. “Every Republican in the House who watched Renee Good’s murder and then refused to demand Speaker Johnson conduct oversight is complicit. It is beyond shameful. It is eternally damning.”