Ranking Member Jayapal Introduces Amendment to DHS Spending Bill Requiring ICE to End Targeting of US Citizens

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, is submitting an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill to add language that would formally block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from detaining or deporting U.S. citizens while conducting civil immigration enforcement.

"ICE has been terrorizing communities across this country, kidnapping and detaining immigrants and US citizens alike," said Jayapal. "In the last few days, we have seen stark examples of this, including an elderly man being walked in the freezing cold without clothes on. At my field hearing in Minnesota, we heard from a woman who was detained and taken to a designated 'US citizens' cell in ICE detention. We also heard from a man who stated repeatedly that he was a US citizen as ICE arrested him and agents told him, 'that don't matter.' All of this is illegal and outside the scope of ICE's jurisdiction. We cannot pass the DHS funding bill without significant and meaningful guardrails to hold DHS accountable and stop their reckless and lawless actions. I hope to see this amendment seriously considered to protect Americans and further work done to overhaul this bill to rein in DHS."

Reporting shows that ICE has detained hundreds of US citizens, as detention and death in detention have both skyrocketed to all-time highs.

ICE has no authority to arrest, detain, or deport U.S. citizens. Their own internal guidance states, "As a matter of law, ICE cannot assert its civil immigration enforcement authority to arrest and/or detain a U.S. citizen." U.S. citizens also cannot be deported under U.S. law.

Issues: Civil Rights, Immigration