Washington, DC — Last year, congressional Republicans gifted Donald Trump and Stephen Miller an unprecedented windfall of more than $170 billion for immigration enforcement via the BBB. With that funding, the administration via ICE and CBP has terrorized communities, separated families, targeted children and U.S. citizens and military spouses, and trampled on our values, rights and economic interests.
Now, after shutting down DHS, rather than include broadly supported reform and accountability measures for ICE and CBP, congressional Republicans are demanding to not only fund immigration enforcement this year, but for the remainder of President Trump’s time in office per the new Senate budget resolution plan detailed yesterday.
According to Vanessa Cárdenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice:
“American taxpayers shouldn’t have to foot the bill for mass deportation that inflicts violence in our streets, violates our rights, and destroys vital sectors of our economy. That is exactly what the GOP proposes to do, choosing to ignore soaring gas prices and access to affordable healthcare, housing, and education.
Donald Trump and Stephen Miller’s mass deportation machinery of ICE and CBP are out of control and unaccountable to American taxpayers. These renegade agencies cannot be given another dime, let alone funding for the remainder of the Trump and Miller term – especially as the administration lays out their official quota of one million deportations per year. Talk about ignoring the clear will of the American people.
Instead of more funding, ICE and CBP and the mass deportation machinery do need reform and accountability, as the sheer volume and examples of cruelty remind us on a daily basis. The American people are demanding accountability, not a blank check.”
Also see Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in response to the Senate budget resolution details, noting: ICE and CBP “were already funded at multiple times their former budget last year! Republicans rejected any commonsense reforms for these agencies, such as wearing identification or getting a warrant before breaking into homes. Instead, the Republican plan is more money for more secret police tactics that are terrorizing communities across America.”
