RIGHTS GROUPS SLAM SUPPORTERS OF ICE FUNDING BILL, NAMING NAMES.
Rights groups Fight for the Future and Mijente express betrayal from elected officials who voted today to approve additional Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding amidst continued deadly Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE) terror raids across the nation. Today 7 Democrats joined Republicans in voting to move forward a proposal that would further capacitate the violent agency, ICE, through increased DHS funding which inevitably includes an expansion of surveillance technology. The Democratic supporters of the package were Representatives Jared Golden, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Henry Cuellar, Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen, Don Davis, and Vicente Gonzalez.
This decision comes after the brutal executions of Renee Good, Silverio Villegas Gonzalez, and Keith Porter, as well as the countless others killed by ICE since its inception.
Thousands of people made calls to lawmakers’ offices in the lead up to the vote, and over 50 tech and justice organizations sent a letter urging Congress to block the funding package and vote NO on the proposal.
The full letter and signatory list, which includes Democratic Socialists of America, several Indivisible chapters, and UltraViolet Action is available at https://www.fightforthefuture.org/news/2026-01-19-congressional-letter-defund-ice-surveillance-now/
Rights advocates responded to today’s House vote:
“Around the nation, communities and leaders are calling for an end to the atrocities committed by ICE. Instead of stopping them, Democratic leadership continues to act as though a system built on cruelty and repression can be reformed. Communities are watching, the world is watching, and we are ready to move to ensure that those who continue to betray the community with their votes are held accountable. Every vote to expand ICE’s budget fuels more surveillance systems, continued militarization, and civil rights violations. This moment requires courage—to stand up to billionaire interests and the far right. The message from our communities is clear: it’s time to abolish ICE, not increase its funding.” Cat Carrillo – No Tech For I.C.E. Organizer at Mijente
“While neighborhoods in Minnesota and across the country are fighting for their lives to protect their neighbors, today 7 Democrats voted to funnel even more money to their aggressors, making sure ICE has the tools and resources to surveil and destroy their communities.” Reem Suleiman, Campaign Director at Fight For the Future