New congressional power could let democrats plan to widen probes into fatal ice shootings

Memorials draw attention after election

The day after the midterms, people gathered at the Minneapolis memorial for Alex Pretti, a VA nurse and U.S. citizen shot by Border Patrol agents last January. Community members had been placing “I Voted” stickers there throughout the week.

Nicki Adams, Pretti’s close friend and former partner, said the stickers mattered to her and might have mattered to him. She said the election and the memorial offered a message to Congress: “You work for us,” Adams said. People also left stickers at the site where ICE killed Renee Good in Minneapolis and at the Houston location where an ICE officer killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in July.

Congress gains investigative tools

With a congressional majority, Democrats can subpoena people involved in the deportation operation and require sworn testimony. Potential witnesses include White House Border Czar Tom Homan, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, former Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino and White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. Congress can also demand internal records, such as use-of-force reports.

Lawmakers signal renewed scrutiny

Democrats have already held shadow hearings on the shootings, hearing from relatives and witnesses. Naureen Shah, who leads the ACLU’s immigration policy work, said Congress could now investigate what orders officers received and what training they had.

Shah also questioned how officials portrayed Good and Pretti as threats, including labeling Pretti a “would-be assassin” and a domestic terrorist despite video evidence. Rep. Jamie Raskin said Congress would use “every tool” to investigate ICE; Rep. Robert Garcia pledged to address abuses by DHS and ICE. Rep. Bennie Thompson asked Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to preserve documents, while Rep. Delia Ramirez urged several officials to clear their schedules.