Betty McCollum

02/03/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/03/2026 15:37

U.S. Rep. McCollum Statement on Funding for the Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. Congresswoman McCollum voted no on the legislation. Following the vote, Congresswoman McCollum issued the following statement:

"Three thousand masked federal agents continue to bring fear and chaos to the Twin Cities and across Minnesota. Federal agents have killed two American citizens. People have been rounded up during roaming street raids. Because of this, many of my neighbors now live in fear. People are afraid to leave their homes. Children are not going to school. When legal immigrants and citizens go about their lives, they now bring their passport or legal documents with them to prove their legal status. This is the stark reality of what the Trump administration's anti-immigration policy looks like in Minnesota.

"I cannot in good conscience support additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security at a time when ICE and Border Patrol agents are routinely violating Minnesotans' constitutional rights. I will not vote for additional DHS funding until it includes transparent oversight, including joint investigations with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions, and puts constraints on the use of force by ICE and Border Patrol agents.

"Last Thursday, White House border Czar Tom Homan announced that there would be a drawdown of federal immigration agents in Minnesota. When asked by a reporter that same day whether a drawdown would occur, President Trump stated: 'No, no, not at all.' Considering that President Trump has rejected his own Border Czar's intentions to reduce the presence of federal agents in Minnesota, I have no reason to believe that the Trump Administration will implement the reforms necessary to protect the safety of the people of Minnesota."

Click here to watch Rep. McCollum's remarks on the legislation from the floor of the House of Representatives.

Betty McCollum published this content on February 03, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 03, 2026 at 21:37 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]