Rep. Pettersen Votes Against Legislation to Fund Trump’s Disturbing, Violent ICE Operations

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) released the following statement after voting against the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill which does not include any guardrails for Donald Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem's disturbing and violent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

The vote comes in the wake of the murder of Minneapolis resident, Renee Good, and an escalating pattern of extreme force, family separation, and unlawful detentions by ICE officers across the country.

"This bill gives Donald Trump and Kristi Noem a greenlight to continue ICE operations that are lawless, dangerous, and out of control," said Pettersen. "My office has been inundated with calls, emails, and letters from Coloradans who are horrified by what we are witnessing right now. That's why I introduced amendments to put guardrails in place - to keep children with their families, stop the transfer of other federal officers into ICE, and prevent immigrants from being sent to federal prisons. Unfortunately, Republicans rejected every single one. At a moment when this administration has shown it has no regard for human life, the Constitution, or accountability, Congress cannot keep writing checks without oversight. I voted no, and I will continue to oppose funding for these illegal ICE operations."

House Republicans rejected Representative Pettersen's amendments that would have:

• Blocked ICE from placing a child into foster care when a parent is detained without first contacting next of kin;

• Prohibited the transfer of federal law enforcement officers to ICE; and

• Prevented ICE from holding detainees in federal prisons.

Pettersen has consistently voted against Donald Trump's anti-immigrant agenda, including opposing over $45 billion in funding for immigration enforcement in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." She also supports legislation to require DHS and ICE officers to clearly identify themselves during enforcement actions and has demanded accountability from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, including calling for Noem's impeachment.