Whitehouse Statement on DHS Funding Bill

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today released the following statement after voting against further funding for violent immigration enforcement in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill:

"Nobody believes that the masked thuggery of ICE and CBP on the streets of American cities is legitimate or professional law enforcement. Democrats simply demand that ICE and CBP end their secret-police-type rogue behavior and implement real officer accountability. These basic standards to protect the public's safety are already followed by all other law enforcement agencies across America.

"It's clear that after two weeks of negotiations, the Trump administration and Republicans are not serious about reining in this goon-squad violence against American citizens. I am ready to pass bipartisan legislation, after making these obviously necessary reforms."