Refugee Congress condemns ICE abuse and killings, calls on Congress to end additional funding
Refugee Congress strongly condemns the deadly violence carried out during recent immigration enforcement actions, including the senseless killings of community members at the hands of federal agents. This escalation of violence is the direct result of the cruel policies that target resettled refugees, people seeking safety, and communities of color, and the Trump administration is demonstrating a willingness to violently remove anyone who stands in its way.
For over a year now, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have targeted resettled refugees and people who have found safety in the United States. The president has signed off a series of executive orders and the administration has implemented policies that revoke protections and place all forcibly displaced people – including lawful residents and protected status holders – directly in harm's way. As ICE agents discriminate against and forcefully detain neighbors, entire communities where refugees and immigrants have established themselves as core members are experiencing extreme harm. And as people across the country are stepping in to help their neighbors, they are being met with the same violent response.
“These increasingly deadly tactics by ICE and federal agents are not new, but have drastically escalated and expanded cruel policies that are harming more and more people,” said Nili Sarit Yossinger, Executive Director. “Policies that strip people of due process and basic dignity. Policies that forcefully separate children from parents and criminalize people for seeking safety, opportunity, and freedom. For many communities, the fear has long been detention, deportation, and family separation. Now it includes the very real risk of being brutally harmed or killed. This is a complete and terrifying turn away from everything America has stood for and was built on. When will it be the last straw before elected leaders put an end to this cruelty?”
In 2025, the budget for ICE significantly increased to more than $80 billion. This week, the Senate is making a choice between safety and violence. They will vote on a House funding bill that would provide $10 billion more for ICE. Refugee Congress urges Congress to immediately halt funding and end its support for ICE operations, to demand greater transparency and accountability for the Department of Homeland Security, and to protect all people who live, work, and contribute to our communities.
Related Links:
Take Action: No Funding for Lawless Immigration Enforcement (CWS)
1,025 Organizations Tell Congress to Stop Funding ICE (Detention Watch Network)
