Brownley Condemns DHS Funding Bill Amid ICE Lawlessness and Lack of Accountability

Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) released the following statement on her vote against the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.

"In Ventura County and the Conejo Valley, and communities across the nation, ICE operations have been marked by alarming lawlessness, excessive use of force, and a disturbing disregard for human life.

"I could not in good conscience vote for a funding package that further empowers an agency of masked henchmen acting with impunity to terrorize our communities. Under Secretary Kristi Noem's failed leadership, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has embraced chaos and fear over due process and civility, cruelty over the rule of law, and political theater over public safety. Instead of addressing systemic failures, Noem has allowed ICE to function as an unaccountable force, untethered from the basic standards that govern every other law enforcement agency in this country.

"House Democrats have been relentless in pushing for the urgent reforms needed to rein in ICE and restore the rule of law amid this very dark period in our nation's history. These reforms include requiring judicial warrants, strengthening training and oversight, mandating body cameras, banning masked agents, and establishing clear accountability measures. Yet, House Republicans have rejected every one of these safeguards, choosing to enable abuse rather than protect the public.

"Our immigration system is undeniably broken, but it will not be fixed through fear, intimidation, or cruelty. We need a serious, bipartisan approach that creates an immigration system where those seeking employment, legitimate asylum seekers, and families who follow the law and pay taxes have a pathway to citizenship.

"Further, it should never be normalized for unidentifiable individuals, who may or may not even be federal agents, to terrorize communities, violate due process, subject detainees to unsafe and unsanitary conditions, or tear families apart.

"The suffering and trauma inflicted by the Trump administration's immigration agenda in just one year stands in direct opposition to America's values and constitutional principles. House Democrats refuse to be complicit in this reckless misuse of power, and we will continue fighting for a future that upholds the foundation and values upon which this great nation was formed."

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Issues: 119th Congress, Immigration