Dear Community Member,

This week in Minneapolis, Minnesota a masked United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent shot and killed a United States citizen, and two people were shot by a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agent in Portland, Oregon.

Immediate and full independent investigations are now absolutely essential to ensure appropriate accountability for these tragedies. Federal and local officials together must investigate the incidents to gather and determine all the facts of the cases. Despite the irresponsible statements of Administration officials, including President Donald Trump, all ICE and CBP agents must be held to the same level of responsibility as members of any other law enforcement agencies that are operating and serving in our communities. 

The killing in Minnesota fits a pattern of tragic and seemingly inevitable violence arising from aggressive and cavalier tactics of ICE. These types of incidents began last summer when immigration agents were deployed to big cities. Border Patrol and ICE agents trained for tactics on the southern border of the United States are now chasing people through urban and suburban settings and confronting protesters understandably unhappy with this Administration’s mass deportation policy. The result is that ICE is making our communities less safe and people more fearful. The current administration's mass deportation approach is undermining trust in all law enforcement agencies and putting communities and people at risk.

As a community member, I support properly trained law enforcement officers who serve and protect community members and remove violent criminals and gang members. As a former prosecutor, I also know that law enforcement officers at all levels are tasked with tough responsibilities of upholding the law, de-escalating conflict, and protecting the community and bystanders. 

As much as I support our local law enforcement officers, it is also why I have long supported legislation to rein in ICE. I support the NOEM Act to make sure ICE officers can be held accountable when they break the law. Federal power does not come with a free pass and abusing that power should come with consequences. I also support banning the use of masks by ICE and other federal agents while serving in our communities and limiting immigration enforcement in sensitive areas.

Rather than just short-term band-aids, however, we also need long-term solutions. That’s why I also stand firmly behind the Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, which limits use of force by ICE agents, mandates training, and protects protesters and bystanders. Specifically, the bill creates training requirements for de-escalation and abiding by constitutional protection.

I also support and lead landmark legislation to reform our immigration system to revamp the asylum system, provide proper legalization to law-abiding immigrants and their family members who came here, play by the rules, and contribute to our economy and communities. I also support revoking a president's authority to target citizens of a specific nation and reforming our immigration system, including a path to citizenship for Dreamers.

The shooting in Minnesota this week was preventable. We must always be working toward justice and greater accountability to protect all communities.

Follow me on facebook, x, or bluesky to keep updated on my work to fight for our community. I look forward to continuing our work together to support properly trained law enforcement in our communities and ensure full transparency and accountability of anybody who breaks the law, as we serve the people and fight for the values of California’s 19th Congressional District.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Panetta
United States Representative
19th Congressional District, California