1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to vote no on the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill in its current form. This legislation provides additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection operations without requiring the meaningful reforms that our communities desperately need. Congress has the power and responsibility to use its appropriations authority to demand accountability. Funding these agencies without reform conditions sends the message that constitutional violations and abusive enforcement tactics are acceptable. The fatal shooting of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis demonstrates the urgent need for oversight and systemic changes before we allocate more taxpayer dollars to these operations. I am frustrated that this bill appears to be a partisan measure that ignores bipartisan calls for reform. New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider and Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar have already released a comprehensive list of reforms for ICE and DHS. These proposals represent a starting point for the kind of accountability measures that should be attached to any funding increase. Additionally, this approach puts critical funding at risk for agencies that serve essential functions, including the Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Disaster Relief Fund, and the Coast Guard. These agencies should not be held hostage to a refusal to address immigration enforcement problems. I urge you to oppose this appropriations bill and instead work across the aisle to craft legislation that ties funding to concrete reforms. Our immigration enforcement system needs both resources and accountability. One without the other fails our communities and violates our constitutional principles. Please vote no on this measure and demand that any DHS funding bill include substantive reforms to ICE and CBP operations.