Amid family separation, chaotic ICE invasions of our streets, and expansion of deadly detention, private prisons and Trump’s cronies stand to pocket billions from reconciliation bill while everyday people struggle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: media@freedomforimmigrants.org
WASHINGTON — Trump today signed a bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the end of his term, adding roughly $70 billion to these deadly agencies on top of the staggering $170 billion already allotted for immigration enforcement last year.
Following passage of the bill, Laura Hernández, executive director of Freedom for Immigrants, issued the following statement:
“The passage of this bill should dispel any doubts about how little our elected officials represent the people. This bill is a nightmare and deepens the government’s betrayal of our people. No one wants ICE and CBP to have more money. ICE and its campaign of mass deportation, resulting in chaos, family separation, and the destruction of our communities, have never been more unpopular. Yet here we are handing $70 billion dollars to send more agents onto our streets to terrorize our communities.
“This destructive funding bill comes in the same week we marked 50 deaths in ICE custody during Trump’s term. Expanding what is already the world’s largest immigration detention system will undoubtedly lead to more deaths and immeasurable harm, as deadly medical neglect, torture, and other human rights abuses run rampant inside these black box detention sites.
“Let’s be clear — it’s Trump’s cronies and the private prison corporations who will financially benefit from this bill while everyday people struggle to make ends meet with rising inflation, soaring gas prices, and unaffordable healthcare, among other hurdles. In Congress, the opposition to Trump’s agenda must do everything in its power to throw sand in the gears of the detention and deportation machine. Importantly, to turn the page and advance a winnable future for us all, we must leave behind the racist and outdated criminalizing framework that creates false tiers of worthiness. All people are deserving of justice, human dignity, and freedom. Now more than ever, it’s up to us to fight like hell for this vision.”
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Freedom for Immigrants is an abolitionist organization working to end immigration incarceration by organizing with and following the leadership of currently and formerly incarcerated immigrants. We’re building a future in which all people can move freely and thrive. Learn more at www.freedomforimmigrants.org/.