A coalition of civil and human rights organizations is demanding members of Congress oppose legislation that would boost the scope and cruelty of President Donald Trump’s immigration detention and deportation programs.
Nevertheless, that funding passed the House of Representatives Jan. 22 as seven Democrats joined Republicans to support the measure opposed by all other Democrats.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and his top leaders joined rank-and-file Democrats in voting no on the DHS funding bill, saying it lacked guardrails and accountability for ICE.
“ICE is out of control and operating, in far too many ways, in a lawless fashion,” Jeffries said. He accused ICE of “using taxpayer dollars to inflict brutality on the American people,” including by killing Renee Good “in cold blood.”
The Homeland Security Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026 prioritizes border security and immigration enforcement with $64.4 billion in discretionary funding, including $28 billion specifically earmarked for Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“This is on top of the $170 billion budgeted for the next four years for detention and enforcement — setting yet another dangerous precedent in our country that will make us less safe by exposing people to violence and instilling fear,” the Southern Poverty Law Center said in reference to funding provided in the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed last year.
This is part of a larger package of appropriations bills covering national security, education, transportation, housing and labor.
“Congress should not provide another dime for the Trump administration’s violent assault on our communities across the country,” said Jesse Franzblau, associate policy director with the National Immigrant Justice Center.
“We know that the deadly arrest and detention operations will only escalate as long as ICE and Border Patrol have a blank check to operate. Congress must stop taxpayer funds from going to the private contractors profiting from the deadly system, assert its authority by demanding real accountability, cutting funds for immigration prison camps and deportations, and investing in communities.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., center, speaks to members of the media at the U.S. Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)
Advocates are still fuming over the fact ICE increased its force from 10,000 to 22,000 agents during the first year of the Trump administration. The hiring was made possible by the massive 2025 appropriations bill passed in July. DHS said it has received more than 220,000 applications for those positions in the past 12 months.
“ICE kills — full stop,” said Marisol Hernandez, senior advocacy manager with the Detention Watch Network. “With a record number of people in detention and record number of deaths in ICE custody, including six deaths just this month, Trump’s cruel mass detention and deportation agenda is being executed at the expense of Americans receiving lifesaving health care and millions of kids having school lunches.”
CBS News reported ICE is currently holding 73,000 people who are facing deportation, its highest level ever and an 84% increase over January 2025. The administration said its goal is to detain as many as 100,000 in its immigration enforcement efforts.
“More Americans are waking up to the reality that ICE does vastly more harm than good and it is time our elected officials join their constituents in that reality,” said Jamie Beran, CEO, of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action.
Tragically, the recent killing of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis, Minn., and other agent-involved violence is being accomplished with taxpayer money, Beran added.
“As American Jews, we have seen before what happens when a government scapegoats and targets immigrants. We have seen the violence that results when government officials use the false, antisemitic and racist Great Replacement conspiracy theory to justify harassing, deporting, detaining, kidnaping or targeting anyone who disagrees with them. Congress must intervene and stop the flood of funding to the agencies terrorizing our communities.”
The overspending on immigration enforcement also harms communities by neglecting issues that affect Americans on a daily basis, according to United We Dream.
“The American people are overwhelmingly against using their tax dollars to fund continued death, destruction and terror in our cities, all while the actual dire needs of our communities are neglected. Millions of working families are struggling to afford groceries. Health care premiums are skyrocketing.”
The seven House Democrats who voted in favor of funding DHS were Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez of Texas; Jared Golden of Maine; Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington; Don Davis of North Carolina; and Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi of New York.
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote no.
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