Larson Votes Against Latest Republican Effort to Fund ICE

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) voted against Republicans’ bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security with no restrictions to rein in ICE’s abuses of power. Following Trump’s call to ‘nationalize elections,’ Larson introduced the Stop ICE Election Militarization Act to protect American elections from illegal ICE interference, and cosponsored amendments to the bill the House voted on today to redirect the $75 billion ICE slush fund to restoring the Republican Budget’s cut to Medicaid and block federal law enforcement from being deployed at polling places. Both amendments were blocked by Republicans on the Rules Committee from being considered by the full House. 

“Secretary Noem may have been removed from her position, but this administration’s abuses of power at the Department of Homeland Security have continued,” said Larson. “After Republicans gave ICE a $75 billion slush fund, the agency has been transformed into Donald Trump’s personal army. We have seen American citizens executed in our streets, mothers snatched from their children in our communities, and threats from Trump allies like Steve Bannon to send ICE agents to ‘surround the polls’ in the midterm election. ICE needs to be disbanded, and we need to divert their bloated budget to the issues keeping families up at night, like expanding affordable housing and lowering health care costs.” 

Larson has called for disbanding ICE and is championing legislation in Congress to require federal agents to identify themselves; bar ICE raids in schools, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship; ban abusive tactics including chokeholds; and redirect ICE funding from the Republican budget to lower health care premiums and expand affordable housing.