Amid the ongoing use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US Senator Chuck Grassley shared his thoughts on recent violent events that have taken place in Minnesota, including the fatal shooting of Renee Good. 

Grassley stated on Tuesday, “The persons that did the shooting say it was self defense. I’m not going to make a decision on that until the FBI investigation gets done. I’ve seen every video in regard to it. So, the first thing you think of is the fact that three kids and a partner were left behind. So, you feel sorry for the family. On the other hand, the extent to which, but if, as charged, they were interfering with the work of law enforcement, that’s a crime in and of itself.” 

When asked about Congressional oversight of ICE facilities Grassley stated, “You don’t have to ask if Congress should oversight or can we oversight, yeah it’s just part of our constitutional responsibilities.” 

Officials recently re-imposed a policy that stonewalls unannounced congressional oversight of federal immigration detention facilities. Recently, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem issued a memo requiring members of Congress to provide seven days’ notice before being granted access to these facilities. However under federal law, all members of Congress have the right to conduct unannounced oversight of federal facilities, including those run by ICE. The right to conduct unannounced visits was upheld in court in December following an attempt by the administration to implement the same policy requiring advance notice from members of Congress.

Grassley serves as the chair of the oversight committee, and has been a part of the committee since 1981.