Indivisible Brooklyn rallied exterior Sen. Chuck Schumer’s residence, calling on Schumer to whip the Democratic Caucus to get ICE out of American cities and deny ICE any extra funding.
Picture by Gabriele Holtermann
Because the federal authorities heads towards a possible shutdown as early as Jan. 30, after the Senate on Thursday did not advance a six-bill funding package deal that features the Division of Homeland Safety Appropriations Act, 41 members of the New York Metropolis Council despatched a letter to Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer on Jan. 29 urging him to proceed blocking any funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Division of Homeland Safety.
The stalled laws (H.R. 7147) would supply billions of {dollars} in funding for ICE and DHS.
The Council’s enchantment comes as Senate Democrats negotiate federal funding laws on Capitol Hill. In current days, Schumer and his Democratic colleagues have signaled they won’t again a full appropriations package deal except modifications are made to how ICE and DHS function nationwide. Proposed reforms embrace stronger accountability measures and limits on sure enforcement practices.
Late Thursday, Senate Democrats reached a take care of the White Home and Senate Republicans to keep away from one other extended shutdown. If the settlement holds, it will fund the federal government apart from DHS, which might obtain a two-week extension whereas lawmakers negotiate an inventory of reforms. The Senate hopes to vote on the deal Friday.
The negotiations unfold amid nationwide protests over the killings of Alex Pretti and Renée Nicole Good by federal brokers in Minneapolis. On Wednesday, Senate Democrats issued an inventory of calls for that included banning federal brokers from sporting masks and conducting roving patrols, requiring brokers to put on physique cameras, and imposing stricter guidelines governing warrants.
New Yorkers demanded to defund and abolish ICE at an emergency rally after ICE brokers shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis on Jan. 24.Picture by Gabriele Holtermann
Advocates and lawmakers have linked the deaths to systemic failures, medical neglect, and what they describe as a broader tradition inside federal enforcement companies that prioritizes militarized ways over human rights and due course of.
The Council’s letter notes that in 2025, at the very least 32 individuals died in ICE custody — its deadliest yr in additional than 20 years — citing systemic failures, medical neglect, and a tradition of impunity inside immigration detention. The letter additionally states that the capturing deaths of Pretti and Good underscore long-standing warnings from immigrant communities and civil rights advocates about extreme power, minimal accountability, and a disregard for human life inside ICE and the broader DHS enforcement system.
“As representatives of New York City—home to one of the largest and most vibrant immigrant populations in the world—we urge you to continue blocking any funding package that resources ICE or DHS,” the letter reads. “Incremental reforms will not prevent deaths, curb abuse, or meaningfully change an agency whose mission and structure are fundamentally incompatible with democratic values.”
The letter was authored by Brooklyn Council Member Shahana Hanif, whose district contains Kensington, Borough Park, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, Gowanus, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and the Columbia Waterfront. Hanif careworn that the second represents a essential alternative for Democratic management between upholding democratic values and persevering with to fund what she described as a merciless deportation regime.
“In New York and cities nationwide, immigrant communities live with the very real consequences of an enforcement system that operates with extraordinary force and little accountability,” Hanif wrote in a press release.
New Yorkers demanded to defund and abolish ICE at an emergency rally after ICE brokers shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis on Jan. 24.Picture by Gabriele Holtermann 
New Yorkers demanded to defund and abolish ICE at an emergency rally after ICE brokers shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti in Minneapolis on Jan. 24.Picture by Gabriele Holtermann
Whereas Council Speaker Julie Menin didn’t co-sign the letter, a lot of her management workforce joined their colleagues, together with Deputy Speaker Nantasha Williams, Majority Chief Shaun Abreu, Deputy Majority Whip Elsie Encarnación, Deputy Chief Sandra Ung, and Deputy Chief Chris Banks.
Menin mentioned she helps the place outlined within the letter.
“ICE has been harassing, jailing, and murdering innocent people across the country. This is a threat to our safety and to our democracy, and there is no reason our tax dollars should continue to support it. As I expressed to Leader Schumer, I support the position outlined in this letter from my colleagues — unless this agency and its operations are completely structurally reformed, our federal representatives should refuse to support any further funding,” Menin mentioned.
Council Member Sandy Nurse (D-Brooklyn), chair of the Council’s Committee on Human and Civil Rights, mentioned New York Metropolis elected officers are “ready to protect our communities and are watching to ensure our representatives in Washington do the same.”
“With ICE actively murdering and disappearing people with impunity, now is the time for morally decisive action to starve this rogue paramilitary force of funds for their reign of terror on our cities. Our communities can’t afford more piecemeal compromises or capitulation from national Democratic leaders,” Nurse mentioned.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer speaks at Council Member Kayla Santosuosso’s current inauguration in Bay Ridge. This week, he referred to as on Senate Majority Chief John Thune to work with Senate Democrats to separate DHS funding from the broader appropriations package deal. File picture by Gabriele Holtermann
In a speech on the Senate flooring Thursday, Schumer referred to as on Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-South Dakota) to work with Senate Democrats to separate DHS funding from the broader appropriations package deal so the Senate may instantly move 5 bipartisan funding payments and negotiate modifications to the DHS measure.
Schumer mentioned Senate Democrats are united round a number of objectives to rein in ICE and finish violence, together with ending roving patrols, tightening guidelines governing warrants, holding ICE and federal brokers to the identical requirements as different legislation enforcement companies, requiring impartial investigations, banning brokers from sporting masks, and mandating physique cameras and visual identification.
He referred to as for an finish to what he described as “state-sanctioned thuggery,” saying Congress has each the authority and the ethical obligation to behave.
“Now, the onus is on Leader Thune and Senate Republicans to work with Democrats to turn these goals into legislation. They are in the majority, Republicans are. They are the ones who have the responsibility to govern, and Democrats are ready to come to the table,” Schumer mentioned. “If Republicans refuse to work with us to rein in ICE and to end the violence, they’re telling the American people they’re choosing to protect ICE over choosing to protect people’s safety.”
