1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose any further funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to support efforts to defund this agency. On January 30, students from the Santa Paula School District organized a walkout in solidarity with immigrants across America. Students of all ages participated, waving flags, holding signs, and marching through their community to protest ICE and the administration's immigration policies. Santa Paula was not alone that day. Communities across the country demonstrated against ICE's enforcement practices, reflecting widespread concern about the agency's impact on families and neighborhoods. ICE's enforcement actions tear apart families and create fear in communities where people should feel safe. The agency operates with minimal oversight and has documented cases of civil rights violations, inhumane detention conditions, and separation of children from their parents. These practices do not make our communities safer. They make hardworking people afraid to send their children to school, report crimes, or seek medical care. The funding that currently supports ICE could be redirected toward programs that actually strengthen communities: education, healthcare, infrastructure, and services that benefit all constituents. Immigration enforcement should focus on genuine security threats, not on separating families who contribute to our economy and enrich our communities. The students who walked out in Santa Paula understand something fundamental: our values as a nation depend on how we treat the most vulnerable among us. They demonstrated courage in standing up for their neighbors and classmates. I ask that you show similar courage by opposing ICE funding and supporting immigration policies that keep families together and treat all people with dignity. I request that you publicly commit to voting against any appropriations bill that includes funding for ICE and that you cosponsor legislation to defund the agency. Our community is watching how you respond to this issue.