WASHINGTON, D.C. – Against a backdrop of the senseless death of Renee Good, a second shooting of a Venezuelan man, and dozens of others harmed or killed at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Congress continues its budgetary appropriations process and debates giving additional funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s violent assault on our cities, communities, and neighbors. The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) firmly believes that DHS and ICE have abused our tax dollars, our families, and our democracy for far too long. Along with over 400 other organizations, we demand Congress reject any additional funding to DHS.
Last year, Congress gave DHS a windfall of $170 billion to supersize its detention and abduction capacities through the budget reconciliation process, giving a blank check for cruelty to DHS. Now, masked agents, equipped for war, are dragging people from their cars, zip-tying children, firing tear gas at high schoolers, and pointing guns at observers. In 2025 alone, there were 32 known deaths at the hands of ICE—the deadliest year ever—while tens of thousands of others suffer inhumane conditions in detention camps. While attempting to exercise oversight authority, Members of Congress have been turned away from visiting detention centers and responding to reports of cruelty. Recently, Democratic representatives Kelly Morrison, Ilhan Omar, and Angie Craig attempted to visit a Minnesota ICE detention center but were blocked, citing new guidance that requires Members of Congress to provide seven days’ notice of their visit.
Said Emilia González Avalos, Executive Director, Unidos MN, “What we are witnessing in Minnesota is ICE flooding neighborhoods, kidnapping, and murdering community members with impunity. Trump has purposefully empowered ICE to operate like a militia, letting it inflict real economic violence with zero accountability. Small businesses are struggling or closing during this militarized occupation because our communities are scared of being targeted next, and workers are afraid of being abducted.
“It is unacceptable that our taxpayer dollars are funding this chaos instead of public safety. As Minnesotans, we are resilient and will not back down. We will stand by our values and defend all of us. It is long overdue for Congress to do its job by stopping the signing of blank checks that enable ICE’s violence and economic harm. We demand action now.”
Said Nicole Melaku, NPNA executive director, “Under the weight of an affordability crisis, rising civil unrest, and escalating public safety concerns due to rogue ICE operations, our government now debates inflating ICE capacity even further—with more taxpayer dollars—to continue its reign of terror. In this reality, there is absolutely no accountability for actions by DHS and ICE—and it’s shameful and horrifying to witness. Since the murder of Renee Good, there have been more than one thousand peaceful demonstrations across the country. The people have spoken in the streets: do not fund this violent secret police force.
Last year, lawmakers were willing to shut down the government to maintain healthcare access for millions of Americans. Now, Congress must be willing to take equally as bold action to prevent hundreds and thousands of immigrant families and their loved ones from being murdered, abused, or disappeared by ICE. With lives at stake at the hands of completely unchecked executive power, we demand you refuse to fund ICE and use every tool—including, if necessary, a possible government shutdown—to ensure ICE does not continue its chaotic assault on our communities. That is what the American people demand of you.”
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The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a multi-ethnic, multiracial coalition of 88 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 42 states. Together with our members, we advance immigrant and refugee equity and inclusion, build and expand immigration legal services and integration programming capacity, and drive campaigns that strengthen democracy through increased civic participation. See our website for more information at partnershipfornewamericans.org.