Senior Democrats in the United States Congress are threatening to withhold funding from the Department of Homeland Security following the fatal shooting of a US citizen by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis. The incident has ignited a fierce political confrontation over the agency's powers under the Trump administration.
Demands for Accountability After Fatal Shooting
The crisis erupted after an ICE officer shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good, an American citizen, in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Videos of the incident, captured from multiple angles, show Good behind the wheel of a car, reversing and then attempting to drive away before an agent fires multiple shots. The agent is seen walking away afterwards, apparently uninjured.
Democratic leaders have sharply condemned the Trump administration's immediate defence of the officer's actions. President Trump, Vice-President JD Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have all repeatedly claimed the officer acted in "self-defence." This characterisation has been met with outrage from lawmakers who have viewed the footage.
Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, declared on social media platform X that "Democrats cannot vote for a DHS budget that doesn’t restrain the growing lawlessness of this agency." He shared the video of the shooting, amplifying calls for reform.
Funding Leverage and Proposed Reforms
With a critical government funding deadline looming on 30 January, some Democrats are now prepared to use the appropriations process as leverage. Lawmakers are racing to finalise a half-dozen spending bills, including the one funding the DHS. The threat of withholding funds is a direct response to what they describe as escalating violence within federal immigration enforcement.
According to reports, Senator Murphy is preparing to introduce a sweeping reform package. This would mandate warrants for arrests, ban agents from wearing masks during operations, and limit border patrol activities to areas near the border, preventing operations in interior cities like Minneapolis.
The political stakes are high. Many Democrats are wary of another government shutdown fight, and some remain cautious on immigration issues, fearing progressive slogans like "Abolish ICE" could bolster Trump's campaign. However, public opinion appears to be shifting. A Pew Research Center poll indicates 53% of Americans now believe the administration is doing "too much" on deportations, up from 44% in March.
Escalating Tensions and Calls for Action
The fallout from the Minneapolis killing is spreading rapidly. Reports of another federal officer-involved shooting in Portland, Oregon, late on Thursday are likely to inflame tensions further. In Minneapolis, protests have swelled, and the city's Democratic mayor, Jacob Frey, has implored ICE to "get the fuck out." Secretary Noem responded by stating she was "not opposed" to sending more agents to the city.
At a joint press conference with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries labelled the killing an "abomination" and a "disgrace." Schumer said watching the video felt like "being punched in the stomach" and called for a full federal investigation.
Beyond funding threats, Democrats are pursuing other avenues. Representative Robin Kelly of Illinois has filed three articles of impeachment against Secretary Kristi Noem, citing obstruction of justice and violation of public trust. Progressive Representative Ro Khanna of California demanded the agent, identified as Jonathan Ross, be arrested and put on trial.
The fury has reignited calls from the party's left flank to dismantle ICE entirely. "Abolish ICE now," wrote Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib on X. The incident underscores a deepening national conflict over the scope and conduct of federal immigration enforcement as the 2024 election cycle intensifies.
