...
By Anna Commander
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has called for the heads of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to testify next month regarding funding.
The move comes as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would block a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding package, raising the risk of a partial government shutdown and sharpening questions over how the Trump administration is deploying and overseeing federal immigration officers in the wake of two fatal shootings in Minneapolis.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
Read More on U.S.
Why It Matters
The letters follow the killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen shot by a Border Patrol officer during a federal operation in Minneapolis, the second fatal encounter involving federal immigration officers in the city this month.
Amid growing partisan clashes over immigration enforcement, market odds for a shutdown rose after Pretti's death, intensifying pressure on lawmakers to justify DHS outlays and enforcement posture before agreeing to additional funding.
What To Know
Paul, the Republican chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent letters inviting the ICE, CBP, and USCIS chiefs to appear before his committee on February 12, writing that Congress must ensure taxpayer funds “accomplish the mission” and protect the public.
"As you know, the Department of Homeland Security has been provided an exceptional amount of funding to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws. Congress has an obligation to conduct oversight of those tax dollars and ensure the funding is used to accomplish the mission, provide proper support for our law enforcement, and, most importantly, protect the American people," Paul said.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino, a Republican from New York, requested similar testimony from agency leaders over the weekend.
The White House said three federal reviews of the Pretti shooting are underway by DHS, the FBI, and CBP’s internal review office.
Separately, at least 120 Democrats support a resolution to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem following the Minneapolis fatalities, though the effort faces long odds in the Republican-controlled Congress.
...
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday: "Governor Tim Walz called me with the request to work together with respect to Minnesota. It was a very good call, and we, actually, seemed to be on a similar wavelength. I told Governor Walz that I would have Tom Homan call him, and that what we are looking for are any and all Criminals that they have in their possession. The Governor, very respectfully, understood that, and I will be speaking to him in the near future. He was happy that Tom Homan was going to Minnesota, and so am I! We have had such tremendous SUCCESS in Washington, D.C., Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and virtually every other place that we have 'touched' and, even in Minnesota, Crime is way down, but both Governor Walz and I want to make it better! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP"
Democratic Minnesota Governor Tim Walz posted on X on Monday: "I had a productive call with President Trump earlier today. I told him we need impartial investigations of the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, and that we need to reduce the number of federal agents in Minnesota."
In a follow-up post, Walz said, "The President agreed to look into reducing the number of federal agents in Minnesota and to talk to DHS about ensuring the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is able to conduct an independent investigation, as would ordinarily be the case."
What Happens Next
Paul requests that the immigration leaders provide their availability to appear before the committee by January 28, 2026.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines