Editorial: Congress has the power to reform ICE

The Seattle Times, The Seattle Times on Jan 28, 2026

Published in Op Eds

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The deadly and dangerous actions of immigration officers in Minneapolis belie a serious threat to American law enforcement standards. Outside of Minnesota, Americans, including other law enforcement experts, are horrified by what is unfolding.

The lack of standards among some poorly trained immigration officers is painfully apparent. And also gravely serious is the federal administration’s obfuscation of meaningful investigations and transparency into the process.

Minneapolis has been the main stage for such vile attacks on democracy and the Constitution. Left in the wake are two bodies — Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Both 37, they were killed by immigration officers during two separate protests in Minneapolis. Good was shot multiple times Jan. 7 by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Pretti was killed Saturday in a confrontation with Customs and Border Patrol officers.

Before any other deaths occur, President Donald Trump should suspend the ICE activities in Minnesota, deemed Operation Metro Surge. He also should refrain from playing retribution politics and not rain terror on other blue cities, as suggested Sunday by Rep. James Comer, the House Oversight Committee chairman.

“If the mayor and the governor are going to put our ICE officials in harm’s way and there’s a chance of losing more innocent lives, then maybe go to another city,’ ” the Kentucky Republican said on Fox News Sunday. That’s not a solution.

Trump reportedly told Gov. Tim Walz that he will consider reducing the number of officers deployed to Minneapolis, which currently stands at 3,000. That’s not a solution, either. ICE needs major reforms that must come from the president and Congress. It should start with new leadership.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has discredited herself with the lies she’s told in the aftermath of both shootings. She is not the only administration official trading in falsehoods and denigrating the victims. Her incompetence is putting civilians and immigration officers at risk. The situation is further inflamed by the administration’s interference with both the FBI’s investigation and Minnesota officials’ attempts at their own legitimate investigation into both killings.

The Department of Homeland Security’s spokeswoman contends the agency is following the law. If members of Congress “don’t like those laws, changing them is literally their job,” she said.

She’s right.

Congress should start by banning the use of face coverings used by most immigration officers and require body cameras to be used. They should pass such bills with a bipartisan vote that would withstand any veto.

Longer term, they must reform the way officers are trained, and train them in crowd control. Congress also should use the power of the purse strings to rein in the agency.

“We can refuse to send them another dime in funding as long as they continue surging Border Patrol agents to our cities, refuse to take off their masks, conduct warrantless arrests, and evade independent investigations,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Seattle, said. “While the House has already passed the DHS budget, it takes 60 votes in the Senate. Every single Democrat can stand strong and refuse to hand this lawless agency any more money. And Republicans in Congress should join us in legislation to rein in the DHS.”

Reform can happen if courageous members of Congress stand up, but must start with the people who sent them there. That is, voters who apply pressure to those yet to stand up against tyranny.

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The Seattle Times editorial board: members are editorial page editor Kate Riley, Ryan Blethen, Melissa Davis, Josh Farley, Alex Fryer, Claudia Rowe, Carlton Winfrey, Frank A. Blethen (emeritus) and William K. Blethen (emeritus).