Florida Democrats in Congress speak out on Minnesota killings and what should be done

News and views for Floridians and other thoughtful Americans

Democratic members of Florida’s congressional delegation are calling for resignations and investigations in the wake of two killings of American citizens at the hands of immigration agents in Minnesota.

And in the Senate, which reconvenes this week, Democrats are pledging to block passage of a vital budget bill that contains funding for I.C.E. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — without changes to, as the Washington Post put it, “how the agency operates.”

Presumably meaning to stop killing innocent unarmed people.

That same bill passed the House last week with the support of seven Democrats— none from Florida — but will face tougher sledding if the Senate kicks it back for reconsideration with any amendments.

The odds of at least a partial government shutdown seem high.

Here’s a sample of what some Florida Democrats in Congress are saying on Twitter (currently known as X). To make it easier to read, I’m sharing text of what they wrote in addition to screenshots from the social media website:

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz:

We cannot accept Trump flooding our cities with undisciplined, masked agents who show no respect for our rights and use lethal force against Americans.

DHS is telling us not to trust our own eyes. They can’t be trusted to investigate these killings. Noem must resign.

Rep. Lois Frankel:

What ICE is doing on the streets of America is an abomination.

The horrific shooting of Alex Pretti demands a thorough, independent investigation—free from interference and with real accountability. The American people deserve transparency and justice.

Rep. Darren Soto:

ICE criminals killed another American citizen. Meanwhile, the House approved a $64.4 BILLION DHS budget this week.

This is unacceptable and reckless. The Trump Administration must be held accountable.

Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick:

This is why I refused to support the DHS funding bill. Federal agents should not operate in ways that instill fear among the public, killing innocent people. Law enforcement must be guided by proper training, clearly defined rules of engagement, and meaningful oversight.

Americans deserve protection that upholds their rights, not actions that undermine public trust.

Rep. Frederica Wilson:

I voted NO on increasing funding for ICE. ICE is unchecked and out of control, and I won't write them another blank check without real oversight, transparency, and due process for our community.

All of these sentiments are reasonable, of course. But they are not universally shared by Floridians in our nation’s capital.

Because of gerrymandering, 20 of the 28 members of Congress from the Sunshine State are Republicans.

Here’s a sample of what one of them had to say in the wake of the death of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, shot 10 times by immigration agents while prone in the icy streets of Minneapolis this weekend:

Rep. Randy Fine:

"An armed seditionist attacked federal law enforcement today as they were rounding up foreign invaders in Minneapolis. The insurrectionist was put down. Well done. I stand with ICE as they fight these foreign invaders and their treasonous allies. We will not stop until every illegal is deported."

This is what we are up against, folks.

People have written, asking what they can do to help. The first thing, naturally, is to stay informed, which is what this site is about.

You can also let your voice be heard. This is no time to allow Donald Trump and his thugs to distract or silence us. Talk to your neighbors. Share this post with friends. (There’s a link below.)

And call members of Congress and let them know how you feel. Here’s a list of every Florida congressperson and their phone numbers:

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J.C. Bruce is the founder of Tropic Press, a Florida online news service dedicated to sharing news and commentary relevant to Florida readers, whether it originates in the Sunshine State or elsewhere. Bruce is an award-winning former newspaper editor, journalist and author living in Florida, his native state.

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Onward thru the fog

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed if you are a rational person living in the Free State of Florida, but there are plenty of smart, reasonable people just like you here. The purpose of this newsletter and the Tropic Press website is to provide a source of news and commentary that shines a light through this irrational fog.

Thank you for your support as a subscriber. It is invaluable. This is especially so for those of you who have chosen to upgrade to paid subscriptions. Your contributions are making this possible.

J.C. Bruce

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Sharing is caring

As this newsletter was written, Tropic Press was reaching more than 750,000 subscribers in Florida and elsewhere. With mid-term elections on the horizon, the more people we reach, the more effective we can be in helping turn this country around. You can play a vital role in that effort by sharing this newsletter with friends. If you are reading this as an email, simply forward it. Or you can use the link below. Thanks.

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