Sen. Chris Murphy urges Senate to reject DHS funding after Border Patrol killing in Minneapolis
Funding fight intensifies ahead of Jan. 30 shutdown deadline
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said Congress should not approve new funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Jeffrey Pretti during a federal immigration operation on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. Murphy’s remarks come as lawmakers face a Jan. 30 deadline to prevent a partial federal government shutdown and as the Senate weighs whether to take up House-passed appropriations legislation that includes DHS funding.
The House approved a DHS funding measure on Thursday, Jan. 22, by a 220–207 vote. The broader spending debate centers on whether lawmakers should attach new operational limits or accountability requirements to immigration enforcement agencies that operate under DHS, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which includes the Border Patrol.
What is known about the Minneapolis shooting
Pretti, 37, was an intensive care nurse who lived in Minneapolis. He was killed during an encounter involving Border Patrol agents in south Minneapolis on Jan. 24. Federal officials have described the incident as involving an armed confrontation, while publicly circulated videos have fueled scrutiny over the sequence of events and the level of force used. The shooting remains under investigation.
The Jan. 24 death followed another high-profile fatal shooting earlier this month in Minneapolis. On Jan. 7, 2026, Renée Nicole Macklin Good, 37, was killed during an ICE-related enforcement action. Video from that incident circulated widely and contributed to local and national backlash, as well as demands for clearer standards governing use of force.
Senate Democrats signal resistance to DHS appropriations
Murphy is among multiple Senate Democrats who have indicated they will oppose moving forward with DHS funding absent additional constraints on immigration enforcement. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would not provide votes to advance a multi-bill appropriations package if it includes the DHS measure in its current form, intensifying uncertainty over how Senate leaders will structure the floor process before the Jan. 30 deadline.
Because most appropriations measures in the Senate require 60 votes to advance, the funding package may depend on at least some bipartisan support. With the deadline approaching, lawmakers have discussed options that include separating the DHS measure from other funding bills to keep most of the federal government operating while negotiations over DHS continue.
Key issues in the DHS debate
Oversight of ICE and CBP operations, including standards for use of force during arrests and street actions.
Demands for transparency measures, including expanded use of body-worn cameras and clearer identification of federal officers during operations.
The practical risk that a funding standoff could trigger a partial shutdown affecting DHS components, alongside unrelated agencies funded through separate appropriations bills.
If the Senate cannot bridge the DHS impasse quickly, leaders may face a choice between passing a short-term extension or advancing a segmented approach that funds most agencies while leaving DHS negotiations unresolved.
In Minneapolis, the political fight in Washington is unfolding alongside ongoing investigations and public demands for answers about the Jan. 24 shooting. The outcome of the Senate’s funding decision will shape DHS operations nationally, while local officials and residents continue to press for clarity on accountability and the rules governing federal enforcement actions in the city.