Congresswoman Simon Votes Against Funding for ICE and CBP, “I Cannot and Will not Continue to Fund Lawlessness”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 7147, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026:

"I voted NO on H.R. 7147, the FY 2026 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, which would continue to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protect (CBP) at outrageous levels and further enable the Trump Administration's racist enforcement actions against immigrant communities across this country.

"This bill includes an additional $400 million more to ICE for detention and $370 million more for immigration enforcement activities compared to last fiscal year --on top of an unprecedented $170 billion for immigration enforcement that was included in Republicans' big cruel bill last July. More funding for DHS deepens our cruel system of mass detention and militarized policing that targets working families and communities of color.

"Simply put - I cannot and will not continue to fund lawlessness or federal agencies that terrorize families in their own neighborhoods and criminalize people for seeking opportunity and refuge. What we're witnessing is cruel, immoral, and completely at odds with the promise of the American dream.

"I am committed to ending this escalation of state violence against Black and brown people and the immigrant communities who make our country stronger. The East Bay has consistently made clear that we are for justice, not incarceration, fear, and dehumanization - and I will continue to uphold these values through my votes and actions in Congress."

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