1. United States
2. Ind.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose the Department of Homeland Security funding included in the $1.2 trillion appropriations package scheduled for a vote before the January 30 shutdown deadline. While I understand the pressure to avoid a government shutdown, this legislation fails to adequately address the serious abuses occurring under current immigration enforcement practices. The compromise maintains ICE funding at $10 billion for the fiscal year ending in September, despite reducing enforcement and removal budgets. This level of funding enables the continuation of harmful immigration tactics that have resulted in tragedies like the fatal shooting by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this month. The modest reforms included, such as $20 million for body cameras and $20 million for independent oversight of detention facilities, represent inadequate responses to systemic problems requiring comprehensive reform. House Democratic appropriator Rosa DeLauro acknowledged the legislation excludes critical protections Democrats proposed, including preventing DHS from detaining and deporting U.S. citizens and blocking the department from using other agencies' personnel for immigration enforcement. These omissions are unacceptable given the documented abuses under the Trump administration's immigration policies. I recognize the argument that allowing DHS funding to lapse would stop funding to agencies like TSA and FEMA while the Trump administration could continue funding ICE with the $75 billion Republicans enacted through their party-line tax and spending package. However, approving inadequate legislation under threat of shutdown sets a dangerous precedent and fails our obligation to protect vulnerable communities from enforcement overreach. Congress must demand meaningful accountability measures and substantive reforms before approving billions in DHS funding. I ask that you vote against this package and insist on legislation that includes the protections for U.S. citizens and restrictions on immigration enforcement that were stripped from this compromise.