In Minneapolis, a memorial for Alex Pretti, a US citizen and VA nurse shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in January, has become a focal point for community members to express their concerns. The site is covered in "I Voted" stickers, a testament to the community's desire for change. Nicki Adams, a close friend of Pretti's, visited the memorial, saying she wanted to see the stickers and be there to show her support. The gathering is a reflection of the public's growing unease with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) aggressive deportation efforts.
The deaths of Pretti and Renee Good, a US citizen and mother of three killed by an ICE officer, have sparked intense public backlash against President Trump's policies. Despite this, federal law enforcement officials have provided little information on the status of their investigations into these and other fatal shootings by ICE agents. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to a request for an update on the investigations. With Democrats now in control of Congress, they plan to use their newfound power to investigate these incidents.
Democrats have already held shadow hearings on the ICE shootings, bringing in family members and witnesses to testify. With a majority in Congress, they can now issue subpoenas to key players in Trump's mass deportation plan, including White House Border Czar Tom Homan and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. They can also demand internal documents, such as use-of-force reports. Naureen Shah, who leads the ACLU's immigration policy work, says this newfound power will allow Democrats to "dissect these individual shootings and unravel the story of what happened."
The Democratic leadership has vowed to take action, with Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin promising to use "every tool" at their disposal to investigate ICE. California Rep. Robert Garcia stated he will "Lawyer Up" to take on DHS and ICE abuses. Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, demanding the agency comply with document preservation requirements. Illinois Rep. Delia Ramirez warned that certain officials, including Noem and Homan, should "clear" their schedules.
However, there are limitations to what Democrats can achieve, according to Rachel Moran, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Major changes, such as clawing back funding for ICE, would require a veto-proof majority, which Democrats do not have. Moran also notes that President Trump has shown a "complete lack of interest in accountability for federal agents." A White House spokesperson stated that Democrats are "more interested in political shenanigans than in governing."
Despite these challenges, a deeper probe into the shootings could still serve important purposes, such as making evidence available for states to use in their own criminal investigations. Minnesota officials have been fighting to obtain evidence related to the Pretti and Good killings. Brent Ganger, Renee Good's brother, says learning more about his sister's death is crucial to understanding what happened and preventing similar incidents in the future.
The midterm elections have been seen as a repudiation of the Trump administration's policies, with many Americans expressing concern about ICE's actions. Ganger, a self-described moderate, was heartened by the "Blue Wave" and the outpouring of support for his family. As Democrats begin their investigations, they will likely face resistance from the administration, but many see this as a crucial step towards accountability and reform.
Key points
- Democrats plan to use their congressional majority to investigate fatal ICE shootings and possible agency wrongdoing.
- The investigations will target key players in Trump's mass deportation plan, including high-ranking officials.
- Despite challenges, the probes could lead to greater accountability and reform within ICE.
