Democrats in Congress erupted in fury Saturday after federal agents fatally shot a man in Minneapolis, with some calling to deploy the National Guard and partially shut down the government in response.
Why it matters: Democrats are growing ever more strident in their criticism of ICE, Customs and Border Patrol and other immigration authorities as the Trump administration has used the agencies to swarm cities across the country.
- All but six of the House's 213 Democrats voted this week against a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security over concerns about a lack of constraints on ICE and CBP agents.
- The bill passed the House but needs support from at least seven Senate Democrats, who are now under more pressure than ever to block it.
- "The Senate should reject the DHS funding bill next week until significant reforms are added to the bill. We need a complete overhaul," Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.) said in a post on X.
Driving the news: Video of the incident appears to show a group of agents tackling a person to the ground before at least one shot rings out, Axios' Torey Van Oot reported.
- At least one agent then appears to fire multiple rounds towards the man as he lies on the ground. The Minneapolis Police confirmed the man died.
- DHS, in a post on X, said the man "approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun" and that "officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted."
- "Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, an agent fired defensive shots," the post continued.
What they're saying: "Senate Dems should block ICE funding this week. Activate the National Guard. We can and must stop this," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said in a series of social media posts.
- Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.), in an X thread reacting to the shooting, exclaimed: "I am doing my best to respond to this without a string of expletives."
- Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) urged colleagues to sign on to her articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, with Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.) calling to "abolish ICE" and "impeach Kristi Noem."
- Many other Democrats released statements calling for the officers involved to be prosecuted and for ICE and CBP to leave Minneapolis.
The intrigue: It's not just rank-and-file House Democrats pushing the envelope.
- "The Senate must vote against funding CBP and ICE. The House must immediately take steps to impeach Kristi Noem," Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement.
- Congressional Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar (D-Texas) called for Senate Democrats to "reject funding for ICE this coming week and demand an end to this madness."
- Said Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee: "Kristi Noem must be impeached. ICE must be abolished. Democrats in the Senate cannot fund DHS."
Yes, but: Some Democrats offered more muted responses.
- Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) said in a statement to Axios: "This tragic event requires a thorough and independent investigation with full transparency."
- Cuellar, the ranking member of the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds DHS, was one of seven centrist House Democrats who voted to pass a DHS funding bill on Thursday.
What to watch: The Senate is set to vote next week on the DHS funding legislation, but any Democratic effort to block it will be complicated.
- The DHS bill is expected to come packaged together with legislation funding several other agencies, including the Departments of Defense and Health and Human Services, meaning Democrats would have to shut down a large portion of the government in order to block it.
- Still, that's exactly what some Senate Democrats are pushing for, with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) writing on X: "Congress should not fund this version of ICE."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
