California Legislative Democrats Urge Congressional Colleagues to Shut Down Federal Government Over Immigration Enforcement Shooting

California legislative Democrats are calling on their congressional colleagues to shut down the federal government and block further funding to immigration enforcement agencies following a fatal shooting of a civilian by federal agents in Minnesota over the weekend.

At least 50 Democratic state senators and assemblymembers—more than half of the party’s caucus—condemned the killing of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis resident and Veterans Affairs intensive care nurse, who was shot and killed on Saturday by federal immigration enforcement agents.

Unified in solidarity with Minnesota and other cities targeted by federal law enforcement, the lawmakers criticized what they described as the Trump administration’s militarization of American cities, with some members visibly emotional as they spoke out.

### Filibuster Threat Looms Over Bipartisan Spending Package

The incident comes as the previously bipartisan spending package—funding the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security—awaits a vote in the U.S. Senate. An increasing number of Democrats have vowed to filibuster the bill.

However, California lawmakers warned that Senate Democrats, many representing battleground states, might cave and provide Republicans the votes needed to pass the measure to President Donald Trump’s desk.

“This message is for Sen. Chuck Schumer,” said Assemblymember Liz Ortega, Democrat of Hayward. “Do your job. Stand for something. Don’t fold again.”

Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Democrat of Salinas, echoed these sentiments, calling on Schumer to “step aside” if he cannot maintain unity within his caucus.

### Calls for Republican Voices of Conscience

Rivas also directed a message to Republican lawmakers: “We need you to speak out. You cannot watch these videos coming out of Minneapolis, Minn. and think that this is acceptable. We need your voice, we need your solidarity, and standing up for American values.”

### Second Amendment and Accountability Debated

In light of reports that Pretti was carrying a permitted weapon, Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez of Los Angeles referenced a 2018 tweet from the late Charlie Kirk: “The Second Amendment wasn’t for hunting or self-protection, but to ensure that free people can defend themselves if, god forbid, government became tyrannical and turned against its citizens.”

Gonzalez questioned, “What do you call a masked agent killing people in the street? What do you call children being taken from families?”

He noted that the National Rifle Association had condemned premature conclusions about the shooting as “dangerous and wrong.”

“Even the NRA is calling out the dangerous ignorance of federal officials trying to excuse the killing of Alex Pretti,” Gonzalez said. “When even staunch defenders of the Second Amendment recognize the need for accountability, we must listen.”

### California Republicans Respond

So far, California Republicans have primarily targeted their criticism at Democrats. Republican legislative leaders deferred to other caucus members for comment.

Senator Tony Strickland, Republican of Huntington Beach, accused Democratic officials of creating unsafe conditions for both agents and civilians through “sanctuary” policies that limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agents. He argued these policies put civilians like Pretti in risky situations where they feel compelled to monitor officers.

“Stop the rhetoric that ICE agents are Gestapo, that they’re secret police, that they’re Nazis,” stated Assemblymember James Gallagher of Chico, a former Republican Assembly leader and candidate for a special congressional election. “This type of rhetoric is helping to contribute to the chaotic environment in places like Minnesota.”

Gallagher called Pretti’s death “a terrible thing” and demanded an independent investigation and accountability.

### New Legislation Proposed to Increase ICE Oversight

In response to the shooting, some lawmakers plan to introduce new measures limiting the power of federal agents operating in California.

“Certainly this is a frustrating situation because so much of the power and the authority here is in the hands of the federal government in Washington, D.C., but that doesn’t mean that the answer for us is to do nothing,” said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Democrat of Encino.

Gabriel intends to introduce a bill requiring the California attorney general to conduct independent investigations into any shootings by federal immigration enforcement agents in the state—an extension of existing law applied to state and local agencies.

Gabriel will also co-author legislation with Assemblymember Juan Carrillo that aims to ban federal immigration enforcement agencies from using state resources to facilitate their operations, including staging equipment and personnel on state property.

“We have to use every tool at our disposal, every lawful opportunity that we have to use our power, our authority to think of all of the different ways that we can push back,” Gabriel stated.

### Senate Bill 747 to Allow Civil Rights Lawsuits Against Federal Agents

Also scheduled for a vote this week in the California Senate is Senate Bill 747, co-authored by Senator Aisha Wahab of Hayward and Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco. The bill would empower Californians to sue federal agents for civil rights violations.

This bill builds upon Wiener’s measure from last year banning federal immigration enforcement agents from wearing masks—a law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

Wiener emphasized that the legislation transcends partisan politics. “This is really about everyone’s rights under any federal administration,” he told CalMatters on Monday. “Local and state law enforcement are already subject to civil rights liability if they violate someone’s rights, and federal agents effectively are not. This is simply seeking to apply the same standards for all law enforcement.”

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The ongoing debate highlights deep divisions over immigration enforcement and police accountability, with California lawmakers actively seeking ways to hold federal agents responsible while urging a halt to federal funding until reforms are implemented.
https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/01/california-legislature-minnesota-response/