VIDEO: Peters Takes to Senate Floor to Condemn Fatal Shootings in Minneapolis, Call for Commonsense Reforms to DHS

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, took to the Senate floor to condemn the fatal shootings of two American citizens by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers in Minneapolis. Peters also reiterated his opposition to the DHS funding bill before the Senate this week and called for commonsense reforms to improve safety and ensure accountability in DHS' immigration enforcement operations.

"The American people have watched the videos. They have seen with their own eyes the evidence of DHS' unjustified behavior and excessive use of force," said Senator Peters. "The American people's message is loud and it is clear. They're fed up with the Trump Administration's mishandling of immigration enforcement, and they are demanding that we do something about it."

"There's no question immigration enforcement is necessary, but we must conduct it in a way that is both humane and safe. Clearly, that's not how this agency is operating today," Peters continued. "But now is the time to act. I urge our Republican colleagues to join us in putting real guardrails in place, and not just acting as a rubber stamp for the Trump Administration."

To watch Peters' full speech on the Senate floor, click HERE.

Peters has spoken out against the harmful and excessive use of force by DHS law enforcement officers in Minneapolis, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Earlier this month, Peters led his fellow Democrats on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in calling on Chairman Rand Paul to conduct desperately needed oversight of DHS' escalating use of excessive force and other improper actions including the continued use of masked agents and unmarked cars, as well as threats unrelated to immigration enforcement that appear intended to chill citizens' protected First Amendment activities. Following that request, Chairman Paul scheduled a hearing for February 12^th.

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