Padilla Statement on “No” Vote Against Funding ICE and CBP’s Cruelty
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, issued the following statement after voting against a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP):
“How many more videos do Republicans need to see of masked agents grabbing people off the streets, violating the Constitution, and shooting United States citizens in broad daylight before they realize we must rein in DHS?
“Anything short of meaningful, enforceable reforms for Trump’s out-of-control ICE and CBP is a non-starter. These agencies have acted with impunity because Donald Trump and Kristi Noem have encouraged them to do so.
“They have terrorized American cities, killed U.S. citizens, and detained innocent children. They continue to go after people with no criminal backgrounds, including arresting U.S. citizens exercising their First Amendment rights. This is not about politics; it’s about decency, basic humanity, and standing up for the rule of law.
“ICE and CBP are not above the law. We need real oversight, accountability, and enforcement for both the agents on the ground and the leaders giving them their orders. I will not vote for anything less.”
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