The necessity for increased oversight and reduced funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been spotlighted following a recent tragic event in Minneapolis. The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer has ignited nationwide protests and calls for accountability.
In the incident that occurred on Wednesday, 37-year-old Renee Good was shot and killed in her car by ICE officer Jonathan Ross. The Trump administration maintains that the shooting was in self-defense, a claim disputed by local leaders, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who have accused the administration of misrepresenting the facts.
Speaking on WPR’s “Wisconsin Today,” Democratic U.S. Representative Mark Pocan expressed concerns about the oversight of ICE under the Trump administration and the Republican-controlled Congress.
“ICE is a rogue agency, right? They think they’re above the law,” Pocan stated. “They’re told they have impunity, that they can do anything. And we’re seeing those actions unfortunately unfold.”
Pocan pointed to video evidence suggesting that Good’s vehicle was turning away from ICE agents, contradicting claims of a threat. Despite this, officer Ross allegedly continued to discharge his weapon as the vehicle moved away.
“We want to keep the values of America intact and those values are not what we’re seeing executed — and I use that word specifically — with ICE,” Pocan remarked. “This is something that needs greater control. Clearly, Republicans in Congress are not doing that. Perhaps come November, we’ll be able to make some changes.”
The representative indicated that ICE’s funding could be reevaluated if Democrats gain control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections. Last year, President Trump enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which significantly increased ICE’s budget from $9.9 billion to $28 billion.
Venezuela’s Future Under Scrutiny
On a different note, Pocan criticized the Trump administration’s recent actions in Venezuela, particularly the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from Caracas, deeming it illegal under both American and international law.
Pocan noted that according to Article I of the U.S. Constitution, only Congress has the authority to declare war, suggesting that President Trump acted without legislative consent. He described a recent briefing on the matter as lacking in detail.
“I don’t think they know what the next steps are,” Pocan commented. “How much money are we going to spend? Will there be boots on the ground? How long are we going to be there? All of that should worry people greatly.”
President Trump has indicated that the U.S. might remain involved in Venezuela for an extended period to help rebuild its oil infrastructure. Additionally, Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson described the operation as a revival of the Monroe Doctrine, a policy asserting U.S. influence over the western hemisphere.
Pocan expressed concern that such foreign policy shifts could negatively impact Americans, particularly relating to the affordability of essential goods and services.
“Anything that suddenly puts us in the imperialism business, starting to occupy countries, that’s costly and that doesn’t make sense,” he concluded.
