New Dem and Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairs Demand DHS Reforms

Today, New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (TX-35) issued a joint statement calling on the Trump Administration and Congress to take concrete steps to restrain and reform Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations.

(New Democrat Coalition Leadership previously issued a statement on Saturday, January 24th following the killing of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis at the hands of federal agents.)

“The Trump Administration’s organized campaign of brutality has already claimed too many innocent lives, including two American citizens, and traumatized thousands more. Lawless violence carried out at the hands of the state is contrary to the principles that define our nation and threatens to undermine our Republic. Congress must act to defend the American people and their fundamental freedoms.

“The occupation of American cities by its own government must end. As the leaders of the largest Democratic ideological caucuses in the House, we demand concrete reforms to prevent masked, armed agents from wreaking havoc in our communities.

“We believe any new funding for ICE and the Department of Homeland Security should:

1. 1. Ensure ICE and CBP immediately leave Minneapolis and stop terrorizing American cities and communities;

   2. End arrests without judicial warrants and, outside of exigent circumstances, arrests at sensitive locations such as churches, shelters, schools, and courthouses;

   3. Ensure full, independent, and transparent investigations into all DHS-related shootings, including federal cooperation with state and local investigations, and ensure that federal agents are properly trained, appropriately supervised, and held fully accountable for their actions;

   4. End the detention and deportation of U.S. citizens;

   5. End the anonymity of federal agents by requiring them to remove their masks and provide identification;

   6. Ensure robust minimum standards of care at detention facilities – including access to medical care, clean water, and edible food, and protections against abuse – and ensure independent investigations of deaths.

“Meanwhile, the Congress must also:

1. 1. Uphold our constitutionally mandated oversight authority over the Administration to deliver accountability and transparency, and

   2. Take action to remove DHS Secretary Kristi Noem from her position.

“This is a turning point, and these commonsense reforms are critical to delivering the justice, accountability, and change that the American people demand and deserve.”

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