Seven House Democrats broke ranks with their party last week to help Republicans pass a $64.4-billion bill funding the Department of Homeland Security. But after federal agents killed another U.S. citizen in Minneapolis amid President Donald Trump’s nationwide immigration crackdown and growing protests, one of those seven said Monday that he regrets his vote.
[time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”]Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York posted on Facebook that he “failed to view the DHS funding vote as a referendum on the illegal and immoral conduct of ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] in Minneapolis.” He added that he has “long been critical of ICE’s unlawful behavior and I must do a better job demonstrating that.”
Suozzi’s mea culpa comes as public anger grows over the violence exhibited by immigration officials in recent weeks, and even some Republicans have grown more disapproving of ICE.
Suozzi added that the death of Alex Pretti on Jan. 24 “underscores what happens when untrained federal agents operate without accountability,” and he called on Trump to immediately end anti-immigration operations in Minneapolis that have “sown chaos, led to tragedy, and undermined experienced local law enforcement.”
The DHS funding bill, which earmarks about $10 billion for ICE, will be deliberated in the Senate, where Democrats in the chamber have suggested they will attempt to block it even at risk of another government shutdown.
While Suozzi, a prominent centrist, expressed regret for his vote, other House Democrats who helped the bill pass out of the lower chamber have not, with some speaking out to justify their vote and others remaining silent for now.
Rep. Henry Cuellar
Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas asserted in talking points shared with Axios on Monday that the bill he supported does not “add more money into ICE” and includes some oversight provisions, though he admitted they were not as strong as he’d hoped.
House Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, attempted to include measures in the bill that would have increased oversight into ICE activity—such as body camera mandates and bans on officers wearing masks during operations—but failed to secure them.
“This bill doesn’t solve every problem overnight,” the document from Cuellar’s office said. “But the worst thing we could do is allow a powerful Department to operate with a blank check under a continuing resolution—or shut the government down entirely,” arguing that the bill was “not perfect” but “better than those alternatives.”
Rep. Don Davis
Rep. Don Davis of North Carolina earlier framed his vote for the DHS funding bill as a measure to protect his state constituents from natural disasters. The bill allocates $32 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including $26.4 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund.
Davis recognized that his constituents “have serious concerns about the manner in which ICE operations are being conducted,” adding that he believes ICE should be held more accountable for its actions,” but “in eastern North Carolina, we know all too well what hurricanes, floods, and natural disasters can do to our communities,” Davis said in a statement. “Strong, reliable support for disaster relief is non-negotiable.”
After Pretti’s death, Davis extended condolences in a post on X and called on the Trump Administration to “take immediate and decisive action to bring an end to this violence and disorder that have taken lives and undermined public trust.”
Davis’ office has not immediately responded to TIME’s request for comment.
Rep. Laura Gillen
In a statement Monday, Rep. Laura Gillen of New York said her vote last week was for the funding of “essential disaster-relief and local and national security efforts to keep our communities safe. Gillen added that opposing it would have removed funds from FEMA, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Coast Guard, “while allowing ICE to continue operating under the status quo,” referencing $75 billion added to the agency’s budget under the President’s “Big Beautiful Bill” passed last year.
Gillen, however, called for the impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, saying: “The tragic killings of Americans by federal agents make it clear that Noem’s removal from office is urgent and necessary.”
Rep. Jared Golden
Rep. Jared Golden of Maine posted on X last week that “federal law enforcement agencies have the right and responsibility to enforce federal laws, including immigration laws, and a targeted law enforcement operation focused on individuals who have engaged in criminal activity serves the public interest.” Golden emphasized that DHS’s enforcement actions should comply with federal laws, and he said that everyone should “resist the urge to amplify tensions or spread unverified reports,” warning it would be “a recipe for confrontation and escalation that helps no one.”
Following Pretti’s death, Golden, in a statement to Axios, called for an independent investigation and said: “It is well past time to lower the temperature.”
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas shared a video on social media on Monday to clarify his vote to fund DHS.
“Just last week, some of y’all called me asking why I voted for that DHS funding,” he said. “Let me make it clear: it was not to fund ICE.”
Gonzalez said ICE already had “all the resources they need” and that he, similar to Davis, voted for the bill to ensure access to resources for South Texas. Gonzalez added that holding ICE accountable should be done “thoughtfully” and “smartly.”
“So many of our friends and neighbors and family members who work for the government here in South Texas would not be getting paid for their hard work,” he said. “I find that unfair when ICE would continue to be funded.”
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state similarly cited worries over disaster mitigation resources in justifying her vote to fund DHS. She said in a statement last week that she “could not in good conscience vote to shut [DHS] down,” decrying how her fellow Democrats “embraced a false narrative–that shutdowns solve problems–instead of being honest about the tools we have at our disposal and working towards bipartisan solutions.”
After Pretti’s killing, Perez issued another statement on Sunday that did not address her vote but echoed calls for Noem to resign. “It’s unacceptable to have another needless death in Minnesota,” Perez said, “and it’s unacceptable to have elected officials, candidates, and Administration officials continue to throw gas on this fire, or tacitly encourage assaults on law enforcement and anyone else.”
