1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose any Department of Homeland Security funding bill that does not include meaningful restrictions on immigration enforcement operations. With the January 30, 2025 funding deadline approaching, this is a critical moment to establish accountability for an agency that has become dangerously unrestrained. The fatal shooting of an American woman by an ICE officer in Minneapolis demonstrates why guardrails are essential. Rather than accountability, the White House and Secretary Kristi Noem have defended this killing. This is unacceptable. A YouGov/Economist poll taken January 9-12 found that 69% of American adults saw video of the incident and another 22% heard about it. The same poll showed 73% believe ICE agents should wear uniforms during arrests and 56% said they shouldn't be allowed to wear masks while arresting people. A plurality said ICE was making the United States less safe. The Congressional Progressive Caucus voted Tuesday to oppose any DHS funding bill without significant reforms to immigration enforcement practices. Sen. Chris Murphy, the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing DHS, stated that Democrats cannot vote for a DHS budget that doesn't restrain the growing lawlessness of this agency. These reforms should include requiring agents to wear identification, limiting Customs and Border Protection agents to border operations only, and requiring judicial warrants for arrests in immigration cases. Any bill requires 60 votes to pass the Senate, giving Democrats leverage to demand these protections. A stopgap continuing resolution would actually provide fewer guardrails and more flexibility for Secretary Noem to move money around as she sees fit, undermining accountability efforts. Public opinion supports this position. An Associated Press poll from December found that only 38% of U.S. adults approve of Trump's handling of immigration, while 60% disapprove. I ask you to stand firm against DHS funding without meaningful enforcement reforms before the January 30 deadline.