1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to block any Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill or Continuing Resolution that maintains funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. With the January 30th deadline approaching for Congress to pass remaining appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026, I need you to take a stand against continued funding for an agency that has repeatedly violated constitutional rights and terrorized communities. Since ICE and Customs and Border Protection were established in 2003, these agencies have conducted unconstitutional border checkpoints, separated families, denied due process rights, and subjected detained immigrants to physical, sexual, and mental abuse. The recent killing of Renee Good in Minnesota marked the 9th ICE shooting since September 2025 alone. These are not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of violence that has only escalated. The "One Big Beautiful" bill already provided ICE with a $75 billion slush fund without guardrails or conditional oversight. This massive funding increase came with no accountability measures, allowing the agency to continue violent operations in our communities without consequence. Adding more appropriations on top of this unchecked funding would be unconscionable. I understand the complexity of immigration policy, but funding an agency with this track record is not the answer. Communities deserve safety and dignity, not militarized enforcement that operates outside constitutional boundaries. The pattern of abuse, the lack of oversight, and the recent surge in violent incidents demonstrate that ICE cannot be reformed through minor adjustments. I am asking you to vote against any DHS appropriations bill or CR that includes funding for ICE operations. Our communities need immigration policies rooted in due process and human rights, not agencies that operate with impunity. Please take action before the January 30th deadline to ensure taxpayer dollars do not continue funding these abuses.