Sen. John Fetterman called for a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis to end after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration officers. He supports separating DHS funding from a larger appropriations package but refuses to vote to force a government shutdown. Fetterman rejects abolishing ICE while demanding changes to its tactics and warned Congress faces a Friday deadline to avoid a partial shutdown.
Fetterman Condemns Minneapolis ICE Operation After Fatal Shootings — Refuses to Back Shutdown Fight
Fetterman slams Minneapolis immigration operation but breaks from Democrats on shutdown threat
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) sharply criticized a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis after two local residents were shot and killed by federal immigration officers, but said he will not support forcing a government shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Officials, Community Shocked by Fatalities
In a statement Monday, Fetterman mourned the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, both 37-year-old Minneapolis residents who officials say were U.S. citizens and had participated in demonstrations against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the city. He called for the federal operation to be halted immediately.
"Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti should still be alive. My family grieves for theirs," Fetterman said. "The operation in Minneapolis should stand down and immediately end. It has become an ungovernable and dangerous urban theatre for civilians and law enforcement that is incompatible with the American spirit."
Political Fallout and Funding Stakes
The incident has complicated lawmakers' work to complete fiscal 2026 appropriations. The DHS funding bill is currently bundled with five other spending bills — covering Defense; Transportation; Housing and Urban Development; Health and Human Services; and Labor and Education — a package often called a "minibus." Several Senate Democrats say they will not vote to fund DHS while the Minneapolis operation continues.
Fetterman supports separating DHS funding from the larger minibus so lawmakers can address the operation independently. However, he made clear he will not join colleagues who plan to vote against the current appropriations package if Republicans refuse to split the bills, saying he will "never vote to shut our government down, especially our Defense Department."
Policy Stance: Change, Not Abolition
Fetterman rejected calls to defund or abolish ICE, but criticized many tactics used in Minneapolis and urged changes to ICE practices. He also noted that a shutdown would not necessarily defund the agency, citing that former President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" provided substantial DHS funding.
"I want a conversation on the DHS appropriations bill and support stripping it from the minibus," Fetterman said, adding, "It is unlikely that will happen and our country will suffer another shutdown." He said he remains committed to being "a voice of reason and common sense" as lawmakers seek a path forward.
Deadline Looms
Congress faces a Friday deadline to pass the remaining six spending bills and avert a partial government shutdown. The dispute over DHS funding — and the response to the Minneapolis operation — will shape whether Democrats can secure concessions or force a separation of the DHS bill from the broader package.
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