Originally published on January 28th, 2026 by the San Mateo Daily Journal and written by Holly Rusch

San Mateo County’s federal representatives are speaking out against the federal immigration escalation in Minneapolis in recent weeks — an aggressive, Trump-administration backed crackdown that resulted in the death of two American citizens. 

President Trump and others in his administration have justified clashes with protesters in Minneapolis as action against intentional agitators and, in some cases, domestic terrorists, seeking to impede immigration action. 

But the recent killings of both Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents have sparked nationwide backlash and reproach. The attacks on protesters have removed all credibility from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco, said. 

“We need to rein in and overhaul ICE immediately. I would not support another dime for ICE,” he said. “What we are witnessing here is deeply disturbing. ICE needs to be out of Minnesota immediately. The attacks on American citizens are unconscionable.” 

Mullin said, as of now, he has not heard of an ICE surge coming to the Bay Area, a concern that has been floated in recent weeks given the amount of attention driven to the area by the upcoming Super Bowl. 

“We will keep our ear to the ground and our antennae very high,” he said. 

Both Mullin and U.S. Rep. Sam Liccardo, D-San Jose, voted no on a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. They are also calling for the impeachment of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. 

Senate Democrats are also threatening to vote no on a bill that includes DHS funding without new guardrails, a threat that could potentially shut down swaths of the federal government. 

“I am advocating with members of the Senate to vote, as I did, against a DHS appropriations bill to ensure we do not continue to fund lawlessness,” Liccardo said. “I am urging colleagues to support articles of impeachment against Kristi Noem, and I’m being public about my conviction that criminal prosecution is essential.” 

It’s imperative that Democrats take back the House of Representatives in the upcoming November midterms, Mullin said, a statement that he’s reiterated as Democrats continue to push back against Trump despite their minority hold in both houses of Congress. 

“The reality is there’s no replacement for political power. We have to take back the House of Representatives to be a check on this lawless administration,” he said. “I’m doing everything in my power to make that become a reality.” 

That power will then allow for the accountability and investigation into ICE and Border Patrol agents responsible for Pretti and Good’s deaths, Mullin said. 

Liccardo also stressed the need for far greater accountability and oversight. 

“You criminally prosecute those ICE agents who are violating the law. You ensure compliance with civil rights,” he said. “You dramatically downsize the department, which is bloated and ineffective, and you eliminate these horrific quotas that they seem to be trying to satisfy.” 

At the same time, he encouraged those protesting to remain peaceful. 

“ICE activity has created extraordinary passion on the streets, and my very deep concern is that passion takes a harmful path that then justifies the imposition of martial law in the minds of this deranged president,” Liccardo said. “Our First Amendment rights should be fully exercised without raising a fist.”