U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor Votes “No” on DHS Funding Bill Due To Ongoing Abuses

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released a statement on House Republicans' legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

"The militarization of American cities is dangerous and un-American. At Donald Trump's direction, ICE has discarded its core mission and is operating without accountability-targeting and terrorizing nonviolent people, violating Americans' constitutional rights, and fueling fear in communities across the country.

"The Trump Administration promised to focus on violent felons. Instead, agents have grown more reckless. Last year, 32 people died in ICE custody - the most in decades. American citizens have been detained and brutalized, mothers ripped from their babies, and an American murdered in the street.

"Congress must rein in this lawlessness. House Democrats fought to strengthen oversight, accountability, and Civil Rights protections. Unfortunately, House Republicans rejected those safeguards in allegiance to Trump over country. By voting for this legislation, House Republicans are enabling significant abuses of power they claim to oppose. I cannot sanction taxpayer dollars being misused to brutalize U.S. citizens and immigrant families, so I voted no."