Shutdown likely as ICE killings in Minnesota prompt Democrats’ revolt

WASHINGTON- The killing of a second U.S. citizen by federal agents in Minneapolis deeply complicates efforts to avoid another government shutdown in Washington, as Democrats — and some Republicans — view the episode as a turning point in the debate over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.

Senate Democrats have pledged to block funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless changes are made to curb the federal agency’s operations following the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse in an intensive care unit.

Democratic defections threaten to derail passage of a sweeping spending package that also includes funding for the State Department and Pentagon, as well as education, health, labor and transportation agencies. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) released a statement Monday calling on Republican Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to avoid another shutdown by separating DHS funding from the overall appropriations.

“Senate Democrats have made it clear that we are prepared to quickly advance the five appropriations bills separately from the DHS funding bill before the Jan. 30 deadline. The responsibility for preventing a partial government shutdown rests with Leader Thune and Senate Republicans,” Schumer said.

The standoff also exposed fractures among Republican lawmakers, who have called for a federal and state investigation into the shooting and congressional hearings for federal officials to explain their tactics — demands that have put unusual pressure on the Trump administration.

Senate Republicans need 60 votes to advance the spending measure in the Senate — a threshold they can’t reach alone with their 53 seats. The task is further complicated by a lack of time: Lawmakers have until midnight Friday to reach a compromise or face a partial government shutdown.

Senate Democrats have already expressed reservations about supporting funding for Homeland Security after Renee Good, a mother of three, was shot and killed this month by federal agents in Minneapolis. But Pretti’s assassination led Democrats to become more forceful in their opposition.

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Sunday he would oppose funding for agencies involved in the Minneapolis operations, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.

“I’m not going to give another cent to ICE or the Border Patrol given the way those agencies operate. Democrats are not going to fund that,” he said in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “I think whoever votes to give them more money to do this will share the responsibility and see more Americans die in our cities as a result.”

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said in a statement last week that he would not “give CBP and ICE more money to continue terrorizing our communities and breaking the law.” He reiterated his position hours after Pretti’s murder.

“I will vote against any additional funding for Trump’s ICE and CBP when they act with such reckless disregard for life, safety, and the Constitution,” Padilla wrote on social media.

While Senate Republicans largely intend to support the funding measure, some are publicly expressing concerns about the Trump administration’s training requirements for ICE agents and calling for congressional oversight hearings.

“A full, independent investigation into the shooting must be conducted to restore trust and congressional committees must hold hearings and carry out their oversight work,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) wrote on social media. “ICE agents do not have carte blanche in carrying out their duties.”

Similar demands are being made by House Republicans.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, formally requested testimony from the leaders of ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, saying his “top priority remains keeping Americans safe.”

Homeland Security has not yet publicly confirmed that it will attend the hearing, although Garbarino told reporters Saturday that he was “in contact with the department” and expected a thorough investigation.

Many Republican lawmakers have expressed concern over federal officials saying Pretti’s killing was in part because he possessed a loaded gun. Pretti had a carry permit, according to the Minneapolis police chief, and videos show him holding a cellphone, without brandishing a gun, before officers pushed him to the ground.

“Carrying a gun is not a death sentence, it is a God-given right, protected by the Constitution, and if you don’t understand that, you have no business enforcing government laws,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) wrote on social media.

Following reluctance from the Republican Party, President Trump appears to be looking for ways to ease tensions. The president said Monday that he had a “very good call” with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat with whom he has clashed in recent weeks, and that they “seemed to be on the same page” on next steps.

If Democrats succeed in overturning the Homeland Security spending package, some have suggested that comprehensive immigration reforms would follow.

California Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) detailed the plan on social media this weekend, calling on Congress to repeal the $75 billion in additional funding for ICE in last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This allocation nearly tripled the budget for immigration enforcement.

The shooting came as progressives renewed their demands for “abolish ICE» and replace it with an agency placed under Congressional oversight.

Congress must “demolish and replace ICE with an agency that exercises oversight,” Khanna said. “We owe it to Pretti Nursing and the hundreds of thousands of people on the streets risking their lives to defend our freedoms. »

Democrats are also focused on removing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. This month, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Illinois) introduced a measure to impeach Noem, saying she had brought a “reign of terror to Minneapolis.” At least 120 House Democrats supported the measure, according to Kelly’s office.

Party leaders recently called for an end to the controversial “Kavanaugh rulings,” which became central to the ICE proceedings following a September ruling in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. It allows officers to arrest people based on their perceived race or their participation in activities “associated with undocumented people,” such as speaking a foreign language.

Progressives also endorsed rolling back qualified immunity protections, which protect officers from prosecution for misconduct.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) supported the agenda and called on ICE and Border Patrol agents to “leave Minnesota immediately.”

“Voting NO on the DHS funding bill is the bare minimum. Supporting the impeachment of Kristi Noem is the bare minimum. Holding ICE agents who break the law legally accountable is the bare minimum. ICE is beyond reform. Abolish it,” she wrote Sunday. on social networks.