While Conservatives Call on Congress to Hold the Line, Some Senate Republicans Are Questioning ICE Tactics
Virginia Grace McKinnon /
Following the Immigration and Customs Enforcement-involved fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday, some Republicans are questioning the Trump administration’s methods to follow through on President Donald Trump’s chief campaign promise of mass deportations.
The break in party ranks comes ahead of the Senate’s Friday deadline to fund the government. The funding contains appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. With renewed Democrat opposition to the funding package and a small Republican majority, Senate Republicans will need every Republican vote they can get to avoid a partial government shutdown.
A ‘Jailbreak of RINOs’?
“It’s a jailbreak of RINOs out of the ‘America First’ tent right now on the issue of mass deportation,” Mike Howell, director of the Oversight Project, told The Daily Signal.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, called the tragic death a “killing.” At the same time, she called for an investigation.
“A comprehensive, independent investigation of the shooting must be conducted,” Murkowski said in a statement on X. “In order to rebuild trust and Congressional committees need to hold hearings and do their oversight work. ICE agents do not have carte blanche in carrying out their duties,” she continued.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., also called for an investigation.
“There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into yesterday’s Minneapolis shooting,” Tillis said, “which is the basic standard that law enforcement and the American people expect following any officer-involved shooting.”
“This specific incident requires cooperation and transparency between federal, state, and local law enforcement. Any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins are doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trump’s legacy,” Tillis added.
Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, called on the heads of ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to come and testify to the Senate.
On X, Will Chamberlain, senior counsel at The Article III Project and vice president of external affairs at the Edmund Burke Foundation, called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to remove Paul as the lead Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee after the 2026 midterms.
The heads of ICE, CBP, and USCIS will testify before the House Homeland Security Committee on Feb. 10 and Paul’s committee on Feb. 12.
Howell also told The Daily Signal, “It’s politically timed to have the most destructive impact to President Trump’s agenda. They’re going to push for amnesty and limitations on ICE enforcement operations and tell you it’s a win because there are some small-ball reforms on sanctuary city policy.”
Local Minnesota state Sen. Julia Coleman, R-Carver, is also taking heat for breaking ranks.
“Minnesota deserves better than a Trump vs. [Minnesota Gov. Tim] Walz standoff,” she said on X Sunday afternoon. “After tragic shootings and rising tensions, I’m calling on all sides to de-escalate: pause targeted operations, honor ICE detainers for criminals, negotiate, and prioritize peace,” she concluded.
On Monday morning, Trump shared that Walz called him with a request to “work together.” He is also sending his “border czar,” Tom Homan, to Minnesota to help agents. Homan will report directly to Trump instead of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
House Republicans Urge Holding the Line
Many Republicans in the House, however, are pointing the finger at Democrats and demanding that Republicans hold the line by standing with the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.
Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, said, “Democrats set the stage for violence, and when it happens, weaponize it to stop immigration enforcement.”
“Republicans cannot respond with weak-kneed capitulation or cowardice. We were elected with a mandate to deport illegal aliens, end sanctuary city policies, and secure our border. And we should keep going,” Gill concluded.
“Unlike my Democrat colleagues, I’m going to let law enforcement conduct their investigation and not jump to asinine conclusions. We are grateful no Border Patrol officers were harmed,” Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said in a statement via X.
Another Government Shutdown?
Republicans calling for the investigation have not made their vote on the upcoming funding package public yet, but it appears the Senate is headed for a contentious vote.
Republicans have at least one Democrat vote for now: Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa.
In an X post he said, “Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti should still be alive. My family grieves for theirs.”
“The operation in Minneapolis should stand down and immediately end,” he continued. “It has become an ungovernable and dangerous urban theatre for civilians and law enforcement that is incompatible with the American spirit,” he continued.
Nevertheless, Fetterman added that he “will NEVER vote to shut our government down.”
“I reject calls to defund or abolish ICE,” the Pennsylvania senator added.