Rep. Suozzi Acknowledges Regret Over Immigration Funding Vote
WASHINGTON – Representative Tom Suozzi from Long Island, New York, has taken a step back from his previous stance, expressing regret over his support for federal immigration funding included in a spending bill that passed through the House.
In a statement issued two days following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis, Suozzi remarked, “I cannot view the DHS funding vote as a referendum on ICE’s illegal and immoral actions in Minneapolis.”
He acknowledged the anger from his constituents, saying, “I take responsibility for it. I’ve criticized ICE’s illegal actions for a long time, and I realize I need to do better in demonstrating that.”
Suozzi highlighted the tragic killing of Pretti, emphasizing the risks posed when untrained federal agents operate without accountability. He urged an end to President Trump’s stringent immigration policies in the city.
The chaotic incident, captured on video, depicted officers recovering a loaded firearm from Pretti during a struggle, which escalated to gunfire.
Earlier, on January 7, an ICE officer shot and killed another woman, Renee Good, who was also 37. Reports indicated she had allegedly threatened federal agents with her vehicle.
Investigators from Homeland Security are analyzing body camera footage from the recent shooting, and both federal and FBI authorities are probing the case.
Suozzi, one of seven Democratic representatives who approved funding for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year 2026, labeled the recent violent events as “a watershed moment in our nation’s history.” Other Democratic representatives who supported the bill included Lauren Guillen of New York and Jared Golden of Maine.
The House measure, which passed narrowly, allocates $64.4 billion to the DHS. Interestingly, Democratic members of the Appropriations Committee noted it actually reduces funding for ICE by $115 million and for the Border Patrol by $1.8 billion.
The Senate Democrats are threatening to prevent a government shutdown unless the DHS funding is stripped from the House-passed package.
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto voiced her disapproval of the bill, criticizing President Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for deploying poorly trained agents in the field.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described the situation in Minnesota as unacceptable, stating, “What is happening in Minnesota is horrific and cannot be tolerated in any city in America.” He mentioned that Democrats have called for sensible reforms but have faced opposition from Republicans unwilling to confront the president.
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans seem resistant to altering the spending bills ahead of the funding deadline, holding a majority without cooperation from Democrats.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune remarked that a partial shutdown wouldn’t serve the interests of Americans and urged for collaboration on the funding solution.
Thune further lauded the arrangement of having Trump’s border representative, Tom Homan, head to Minneapolis to ease tensions.
In discussions, Trump characterized his phone conversation with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as positive. Walz’s office suggested that they discussed reducing the presence of federal agents in the state.
The White House has been critical of “sanctuary” policies in states that limit immigration enforcement, claiming these policies allow criminal immigrants to evade law enforcement.
Concerns also arose around increased recidivism due to the lack of cooperation from local jurisdictions, citing specific incidents, including a case of an Ecuadorian accused of killing her mother after previously being released by local authorities.
While some congressional Republicans raised alarms about immigration issues, particularly concerning safety, others like House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino reiterated their commitment to ensuring effective operations within DHS.
