Congresswoman Ross Statement on DHS Funding Bill

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) voted against the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 26). She released the following statement:

"Like many Americans, I am deeply disturbed by the shameful actions we have seen from federal immigration agents in North Carolina and across the country. Masked agents descended on our cities, terrorized law-abiding citizens, abducted people off the streets, and even killed a U.S. citizen - all without any oversight or accountability. Although this bill includes some reforms, the Republican leadership refused to include critical priorities, including provisions that would fund body cameras, prevent CBP and ICE from deporting U.S. citizens, and more.

"Furthermore, while this bill includes urgently-needed funding for FEMA, these resources are completely insufficient to meet needs of Western North Carolina. As Governor Stein made clear during his recent visit to the Capitol, our state needs more than $13 billion in federal funding to recover from the devastation that Hurricane Helene inflicted more than a year ago. I continue to call for emergency supplemental funding legislation to help families and communities in our state still struggling to rebuild.

"Again, I could not vote in good conscience for this legislation while our communities are under attack and while our state continues to wait for the help it was promised by the Trump administration."

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Permalink: https://ross.house.gov/2026/1/congresswoman-ross-statement-on-dhs-funding-bill