I represent roughly 280 miles of the U.S.–Mexico border, a place where federal authority is not an abstraction. Decisions made in Washington play out there in real time, with real consequences, for families, communities and law enforcement officers doing difficult jobs under intense pressure.
Out there, order matters. Judgment matters. And respect for human life is not negotiable.
The shootings this month in Minnesota by federal agents carrying out immigration enforcement activities require thorough and independent investigations, with complete transparency. When law enforcement engages in deadly force, the American people deserve the truth. Congress has a critical role in making sure there is real oversight and that the resources are in place to support informed decision-making and accountability in moments like this.
In times of loss and anger, it’s easy to talk past one another. It’s harder to speak plainly about standards and responsibility. But that’s what steady leadership requires.
So let’s be clear about the standard we should expect.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a use-of-force policy that states, “in keeping with [the department’s] mission, respect for human life and the communities we serve shall continue to guide DHS [law enforcement officers] in the performance of their duties.”
That’s not an empty slogan. It’s a solemn responsibility that must guide every action, every time.
When officers act in public, under pressure, and with the full weight of federal power behind them, respect for human life must come first. Congress has an obligation to make sure this fundamental principle is enforced in practice, rather than just written in a manual.
That responsibility is exactly why Democrats helped craft the FY 2026 DHS appropriations bill to ensure public safety is matched by real accountability—and it’s why I voted for the bill last week.
The bill strengthens congressional oversight, increases transparency and directly funds the tools needed to enforce those standards in practice, not just in theory. With Democrats in the minority in the House and Senate and out of power in the White House, the appropriations process is our primary mechanism for imposing oversight and not allowing DHS to operate without guardrails.
For the first time, Congress is overseeing the nearly $200 billion that DHS received through the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act. That’s why we increased Inspector General funding by $38 million, including $20 million dedicated to detention oversight and $12.8 million solely to track OBBB spending. This bill makes clear that those funds are not exempt from scrutiny or accountability.
The bill provides $20 million for body-worn cameras for ICE and Border Patrol, and includes additional funding for de-escalation training and offices that were previously targeted for elimination such as the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and the Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman.
These investments ensure Congress will be able to see how DHS operates and intervene when standards aren’t met.
This bill also makes clear that Americans have a First Amendment right to record DHS law enforcement operations in public. It requires DHS to train all agents on that right and to report violations to Congress.
A free people has the right to see what the government does in its name. Transparency protects the public. It also protects officers who do their jobs the right way. Clear rules create trust. Confusion destroys it.
At the same time, moments like this demand restraint from all of us. Disagreements with government action must be resolved through the justice system and through Congress. Accountability comes from courts, investigations and oversight—not escalation.
That brings us to the bottom line: We didn’t give more money into ICE.
In fact, we cut ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) by $115 million, reduced detention beds paid for in the annual bill and restored real oversight and accountability where it belongs: with Congress.
Those choices were deliberate. Texans believe in tough decisions. We believe power should be checked. Enforcement without oversight isn’t strength. It’s a risk.
Democrats rejected the request for 50,000 detention beds and reduced detention capacity by at least 5,500 beds below last year. We preserved Members’ access to detention facilities. We required execution and spending plans for OBBB dollars.
We made smart enforcement choices. While we cut ERO, we funded Homeland Security Investigations to go after child exploitation, drug trafficking and human trafficking. These are crimes that tear families apart and endanger communities. These threats deserve our focus.
Public safety isn’t served by scattering resources. It is served by prioritizing the most serious crimes.
This bill also invests where people feel it most. We funded the Transportation Security Administration to keep travelers safe and keep the country moving, recognizing that a secure and functioning aviation system is essential to daily life and the economy. We strengthened the Federal Emergency Management Agency so states and local communities have the resources they need to respond when disasters strike and to recover in the aftermath. Anyone who has lived through hurricanes, floods or winter storms knows that when disaster hits, the government has to work.
This bill doesn’t solve every problem overnight. No piece of legislation ever does. But the worst thing Congress could do is allow a powerful department to operate with a blank check under a continuing resolution or shut the government down entirely.
This bill is better than those alternatives.
Doing your job in Congress means standing by your principles and making progress where you can. It means taking responsibility, especially when it’s unpopular or politically inconvenient.
I’ll keep fighting for stronger oversight, especially when it comes to the use of force and protecting human life. That responsibility comes with the office, and I intend to meet it.
Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. is Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee. He previously served as Texas Secretary of State and in the Texas House of Representatives.
The views expressed in this article are the writer’s own.
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