Sen. Tammy Baldwin Demands Oversight on Immigration Agents for DHS Funding
As the U.S. Senate navigates the complexities of government spending, Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin has made it clear that her support for funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hinges on the implementation of stricter controls over immigration enforcement. Baldwin is advocating for reallocating billions from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to other law enforcement agencies.
In a recent development, Senate Democrats reached a tentative agreement with President Trump to pass a package of spending bills aimed at preventing a partial government shutdown. However, the funding for DHS remains a point of contention, requiring further negotiations following a temporary extension.
With the clock ticking towards the Friday night deadline, Senate leaders are striving to secure the necessary votes for the spending package. Passage in the House is also required for any funding bill to become law.
This funding debate coincides with bipartisan concerns over immigration practices in Minneapolis, heightened by the recent death of VA nurse Alex Pretti, killed by federal agents. Baldwin expressed her dismay, stating on WPR’s “Wisconsin Today,” “Alex Pretti grew up in Wisconsin. He attended Green Bay Preble High School. He should not be dead right now at the hands of the Department of Homeland Security.”
Baldwin reported an unprecedented volume of calls from constituents following Pretti’s death, which she described as being caused by ICE and border patrol agents. In response, she and others are calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
“In Wisconsin, if there is an officer-involved shooting, it is investigated by an outside agency,” Baldwin stated. “That’s standard operating procedure, and that needs to be the standard operating procedure for the Department of Homeland Security and their armed agents that have been fanned out across the United States.”
Senate Democrats have proposed several reforms to DHS operations, including ending warrantless raids, which Baldwin criticizes as “out of control.” She advocates for targeted arrests with warrants, in collaboration with local law enforcement.
Additional proposals include requiring federal agents to operate without masks and equipping them with body cameras, aligning with many local police department practices. Baldwin emphasized, “Think about the standards that local law enforcement have to achieve. They have to have a name badge on. They have to have a marked car. Those masks need to come off.”
Democrats are also pushing for a formalized code of conduct for immigration agents, including enhanced training and a complaint procedure for abuses.
“This is a rogue agency that is operating without accountability, and that needs to change,” Baldwin asserted.
While the debate over DHS funding levels was not part of the Democrats’ demands, the reconciliation bill passed earlier this year included $75 billion over four years for ICE, in addition to a $10 billion annual budget, making it the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency.
Rep. Chris Pappas has introduced legislation to redirect this funding to state and local policing. Baldwin supports this initiative, favoring the allocation of funds to the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program.
Baldwin remarked, “The COPS program for many years has helped local police departments be able to hire more folks, have them in their neighborhoods. That’s exactly where I think those funds should be directed, not to this rogue agency.”
Despite Republican opposition, some GOP members, including Sen. Ron Johnson, have resisted the funding package, citing concerns over defunding DHS. Baldwin, however, maintains optimism for bipartisan support on ICE and border patrol reforms.
“Our accountability measures that we’re proposing right now are common sense, and I can tell you that the vast majority of Americans support them,” she concluded.
