WATCH: Padilla Slams Republican Bill to Give Another $70B to ICE and CBP

WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, denounced President Trump and Republicans' budget reconciliation bill that fails to address the real challenges that families are facing under the Trump-created affordability crisis. At the Budget Committee markup, Padilla reiterated his concerns that the Republican-proposed budget reconciliation bill provides even more funding for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without necessary reforms.

"Families are struggling to make ends meet as costs keep rising," said Senator Padilla. "And what's the Republican response? Give ICE and CBP another $72 billion. So much for fiscal responsibility. That's on top of the more than $100 billion Republicans already handed these agencies - money they haven't even spent yet. They're sitting on billions they can't spend fast enough, and Republicans still want to write them another blank check."

Padilla highlighted 3.8 percent inflation, rising gas prices, high grocery costs, unaffordable healthcare premiums under the Trump Administration as issues congressional Republicans should focus on. He further emphasized that the budget reconciliation bill prioritizes investing $72 billion in ICE and CBP funding and $1 billion for Trump's ballroom vanity project while Republicans continue to claim there is no money for working Americans. Padilla advocated that this funding should alternatively help families by reinvesting in healthcare, education, childcare, and housing assistance.

Padilla has been vocal in his criticism of the Republicans' attempts to provide additional funding ICE and CBP amid President Trump's out-of-control mass detention and deportation agenda.

"[We] are simply insisting that if we're going to give additional dollars to ICE and CBP that some things have to change. We need reforms. We need changes for how they're going about their job," said Senator Padilla. "What people are seeing is chaos on the streets. Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Ruben Ray Martinez - not undocumented immigrants, not legal permanent residents - United States citizens killed by immigration agents. We've heard about the separation of children from their parents. Again, we've heard about horrible conditions in detention centers."

Video of Padilla's full remarks is available here.

Transcript of Padilla's remarks is available below:

Mr. Chair, I want to associate my myself with the comments from my colleagues on the Democratic side calling out uh the history of bipartisan efforts on immigration reform including sensible border security.

But I want to remind us all since this is the Budget Committee that we often say both sides of the aisle that budget documents are reflections of our values and of our priorities. And if that remains the case, and this is a pretty damning picture of just how out of touch our Republican colleagues are with working families across America. As Senator Murray just reminded us, families are struggling, costs are rising, costs are spiking, and they're struggling to make ends meet. 3.8% inflation, $5 a gallon gas at the pump, the largest single month spike in grocery costs, the highest levels of ACA premiums ever.

And so how do Republicans propose to help working families? They don't. But let's give ICE and CBP $72 billion more. So much for fiscal responsibility. This is $72 billion on top of $103 billion they've been given previously that they're still sitting on. They've been given so much money they can't spend it fast enough. And Republicans want to give them more.

Let's go back to what our constituents are saying because I know it's not just in Washington, not just in California, it's across the country. Americans aren't waking up wondering, "Oh, gee, I wonder if ICE and CBP have enough money today." They're trying to make ends meet.

And let me be clear on another topic because I know our Republican colleagues are going to try to, you know, twist the action over the next couple of days and accuse Democrats of defunding the police. Again, that's not true. We've voted for DHS funding in the past and are simply insisting that if we're going to give additional dollars to ICE and CBP that some things have to change. We need reforms. We need changes for how they're going about their job.

What people are seeing is chaos on the streets. Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Ruben Ray Martinez - not undocumented immigrants, not legal permanent residents - United States citizens killed by immigration agents.

We've heard about the separation of children from their parents. Again, we've heard about horrible conditions in detention centers ongoing.

We've heard not just from our constituents, but from 425 federal judges appointed by presidents from both parties, including judges appointed by Donald Trump, who have ruled that ISIS actions are illegal and unconstitutional and in many, many cases have undermined basic due process. The administration has lost 10,000 times in court. That's a 90% loss rate by the way. If any other department or agency was failing to do their job 90% of the time, Congress would be demanding oversight and accountability and consequences for those in charge. But no, because Donald Trump doesn't want that, our Republican colleagues are happy to just go along with whatever he wants.

And let's throw in a ballroom while we're at it. A ballroom which, as I recall, he promised to completely build with private donations. He bragged about at least what, $400 million being committed, maybe even collected? Where's that money? And why all of a sudden the change of tune of despite the private money being out there, now he wants taxpayers to foot the bill?

We could be spending that money in a lot of smarter ways to help families. How about restoring some of the SNAP cuts? Not just good for families and children who are hungry, but how about the farmers who supply the food? How about reinvesting in health care? How about reinvesting in child care? Or repairing some highways and bridges, investing in schools, the child tax credit, housing assistance. There's a lot better use for the money that our Republican colleagues are seeking to spend here. And I guess to sum it all up, let's not just speculate, let's hear what Donald Trump himself has said. Quote, he doesn't "think about Americans financial situation." And boy, does this reconciliation package show it. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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