Murray Demands Accountability At DHS Before Democrats Will Approve Funding

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued a forceful call Tuesday for Republicans to join Democrats in enacting serious reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection as part of ongoing negotiations over funding the Department of Homeland Security.

Speaking at a Senate Democratic Leadership press conference, Murray made clear that Democratic support for a DHS appropriations bill would depend on meaningful oversight of the department’s enforcement practices.

“We cannot fund DHS if we do not rein in DHS,” Murray said. “That is a clear, hard line. Law enforcement cannot be lawless—but that’s exactly what we have been seeing from ICE and CBP.”

The remarks came as Congress works to finalize the last of its 12 federal funding bills. Eleven have already passed, but the DHS bill remains unresolved amid Democratic concerns about immigration enforcement tactics under the Trump administration.

Murray cited recent incidents in Minneapolis, where federal agents have reportedly detained asylum seekers and legal residents without cause. “What is happening in Minneapolis has not been subtle,” Murray said. “Federal agents are going door to door, asking for papers. And just as often ignoring papers, taking in people who are legally seeking asylum, like little 5-year-old Liam and his father, who a judge forced them to release this week.”

She described reports of people being detained without warrants and transported across state lines, only to be left stranded after being found to have legal immigration status. “Some of them—taken in Minneapolis mind you—are being left out in the street in Texas, no way to get home when ICE is forced to grapple with the reality that they were here legally all along,” Murray said.

She also condemned what she described as disproportionate and violent responses to peaceful protests, including the use of tear gas and the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

“We saw protesters tear gassed, even as they were pinned on the ground,” Murray said. “We saw the shocking murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and we heard the administration lie every step of the way. They lied about little Liam and his dad being here illegally. They lied about Alex Pretti brandishing a weapon and called him a terrorist.”

Murray referenced video footage that showed a woman being pulled over and surrounded by federal agents with guns drawn before local police intervened. “The Trump administration is trying now to lie about that too,” she said.

Calling the incidents a “lawless catastrophe,” Murray said Democrats would not approve a funding bill that lacks meaningful reform.

“We are not going to fund a rogue department with its unchecked agents and officers,” she said. “We are going to have accountability at DHS or there will not be Democratic votes to fund a lawless agency.”

Murray warned that if Republicans refuse to act, the result would be a Republican shutdown of DHS. “If Republicans want Democratic votes to fix this—then they need to understand that half-measures won’t cut it. It really is that simple,” she said.

Her comments also emphasized the seriousness of recent events. “This is somber stuff, legal immigrants being brutalized, American citizens being detained, American citizens being shot and killed by our own immigration enforcement.”

She laid out specific demands for reform, including ending roving patrols, applying use-of-force standards consistent with local law enforcement, mandating body cameras and visible identification, and eliminating the use of masked agents.

“End the roving patrols. Hold federal agents accountable and hold them to the same standards as local law enforcement on the basic things like use of force. Get masks off, get body cameras on, and ensure proper identification,” Murray said.

Directing her message to the Trump administration, Murray demanded an end to what she described as dishonesty and disrespect for constitutional rights. “Stop the lying. Stop slandering American citizens and lawful immigrants. Stop insulting our intelligence and spitting on the Constitution.”

She urged Senate Republicans to engage in good-faith negotiations.

“We are at the table, and we are ready to negotiate serious measures to rein in these rogue federal agencies,” Murray said. “Americans deserve accountability, we will settle for nothing less.”