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Following midterm election victories, congressional Democrats plan to launch wider investigations into fatal shootings carried out by federal immigration agents. The renewed scrutiny follows public backlash over aggressive deportation operations and the deaths of multiple U.S. citizens and immigrants.
Memorials and Community Message
In Minneapolis, community members gathered at the memorial site for Alex Pretti, a VA nurse and U.S. citizen who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents last January. Supporters placed “I Voted” stickers on a street lamp covering the memorial. Similar tributes were left nearby for Renee Good, a mother of three and U.S. citizen killed by an ICE officer, and in Houston for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a Mexican immigrant killed by an ICE officer in July.
Nicki Adams, who dated Pretti, told NPR that the stickers and recent election results send a clear message to Congress. According to Adams, the public wants lawmakers to carry on important values, be seen and heard, and ensure neighbors are taken care of.
Renewed Congressional Investigations
Federal law enforcement officials have provided little indication of progress in investigating the deaths of Pretti, Good, and at least seven others killed by federal immigration agents since President Trump took office. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to an NPR request regarding the status of these investigations. With a congressional majority, Democrats can now issue subpoenas to compel major figures in the mass deportation plan to testify under oath and demand internal documents such as use-of-force reports.
Naureen Shah, who leads the ACLU’s immigration policy work, told NPR that lawmakers can now dissect individual shootings and ask key questions of top decision-makers. Potential figures facing scrutiny include White House Border Czar Tom Homan, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, former Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino, and White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.
Democratic leaders have already outlined aggressive oversight plans. Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, expected to lead the House Judiciary Committee, told NPR in a statement that Congress will use every available tool to investigate ICE and demand accountability. California Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia told DHS and ICE to lawyer up, while Mississippi Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding compliance with document preservation requirements. Illinois Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez posted on social media that top officials should clear their schedules.
In response, DHS general counsel James Percival told NPR that Democrats are focused on political shenanigans rather than governing, though the agency is prepared to deal with the opposition.
Limitations and State Investigations
Rachel Moran, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, noted that congressional Democrats face key limitations. Major legislative changes, such as clawing back agency funding, require a veto-proof majority that Democrats do not possess. A White House spokesperson told NPR in a statement that if Democrats pursue sham investigations, they are working against the American people and should remember the administration still controls executive powers.
However, Moran explained that deeper probes can still serve important purposes, such as making evidence available for state-level criminal investigations. Local officials in Minnesota have previously struggled to obtain evidence from the federal government regarding the Pretti and Good killings.
Brent Ganger, the brother of Renee Good, told NPR that understanding the details of his sister’s death is essential to prevent history from repeating itself. Ganger expressed gratitude for the election results and the community support shown through the memorial tributes.
