Pa. labor leaders call on US senators to block ICE funding increase

US Senate Democrats are unifying to block a $770 million increase in ICE funding, potentially sparking a partial government shutdown. 

Labor leaders from across the commonwealth are calling on US Sens. Dave McCormick (R-Pennsylvania) and John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) to join Democrats and vote against additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) later this week. 

Republicans in Congress are looking for a $770 million increase in ICE funding in a spending bill to keep the federal government operating, but Democrats are promising to hold up the bill, potentially forcing another, partial government shutdown after federal agents shot and killed two Minneapolis residents this month. 

Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse for Veterans Affairs and union member with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), was killed by federal agents on Saturday. 

One day prior to Pretti’s death, workers, business owners, and Minneapolis residents took part in a citywide general strike, which was the first mass labor action of its kind since the 1940s. The strike was in part sparked by the killing of another Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, at the hands of an ICE agent.

“Pennsylvania’s labor movement mourns the senseless killing of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti, an ICE nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and a member of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE),” Angela Ferritto, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, said in a statement. 

“He was a caregiver, a neighbor, and someone who lived to serve others. We stand with his family, friends, and our union brothers and sisters during this devastating time.” 

Pretti’s death has sparked outrage among health care professionals and others across the country after he was attacked and killed by a group of ICE agents. 

“The members of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, our commonwealth’s largest healthcare union, mourn the loss of one of our own, a fellow care provider, union member and advocate for justice,” the Executive Board of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania said in a statement. 

“We honor his legacy and send our heartfelt condolences to his family and coworkers. And we demand that Senator Fetterman vote against the $770 million in additional ICE funding, which would be complicity in Alex’s killing.”

Fetterman said in a statement that he supports stripping the DHS appropriations bill from the spending package, but would not support shutting down the government. 

“I’ve also spent significant time hearing many different positions on the funding bills and maintain that I will never vote to shut our government down, especially our Defense Department,” Fetterman said.

“Additionally, a vote to shut our government down will not defund ICE. DHS has $178B in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which I did not vote for.”