Representative Tran Opposes Funding for ICE, Demands Reforms to Protect U.S. Citizens

Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Derek Tran (CA-45) issued a statement following his vote against the Senate-amended version of H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, which provides full-year funding for certain agencies and a two-week continuing resolution for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This "minibus" legislation funds the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agencies under DHS without any reforms to the agencies' current practices. Tran's vote comes on the heels of two deaths of U.S. citizens at the hands of ICE and CBP agents and significant concerns from constituents over public safety, in addition to the wrongful detention and endangerment of U.S. citizens.

"While I support pay raises for our servicemembers and reforms to our healthcare system, I cannot in good conscience vote to bankroll an unconstitutional assault on our civil liberties," said Representative Tran. "I hear the fear in my constituents' voices every day-they are watching ICE rip families apart and operate as if they are above the law. We are at a breaking point where families are afraid to attend school, go to work, and attend houses of worship because of this Administration's unchecked aggression. I will not be complicit in the wrongful targeting and killing of American citizens. We must decouple essential government funding from the enrichment of a rogue agency. ICE has lost the consent of the governed, and until meaningful, enforceable reforms are on the table, I am a 'NO' on giving ICE another dime of taxpayer money."

On January 29, 2026, the Senate passed a six-bill government spending package that included funding for DHS without a strong framework to conduct oversight for ICE and CBP. The appropriations package was sent back to the House of Representatives for approval, along with a continuing resolution (CR) that would provide funding for DHS at existing levels for two weeks. This CR is intended to allow lawmakers to continue negotiating oversight and accountability measures for ICE, but no significant assurances from the Administration have been made to date to protect U.S. citizens across the country. The Senate-amended version of H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, passed the house on February 3, 2026, with a vote of 217-214.

Representative Tran continues to closely monitor ICE activity across California's 45th district. On January 22, Representative Tran voted against H.R. 7147, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026, when it first came to the House floor for a vote. Last week, Tran signed onto H.Res.996a Congressional resolution to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem for high crimes and misdemeanors, and has cosponsored legislation to place checks on ICE's conduct, including:

• H.R. 4176, the No Secret Police Act, to prohibit ICE agents from wearing non-tactical face coverings while on duty;

• H.R. 5973, The Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act, to scale back the level of force permissible in immigration operations;

• H.R. 3172, The ICE Visibility Act, to require agents to clearly identify themselves as such when interacting with the public;

• H.R. 5653, the Trust Through Transparency Act, to require all ICE officials to wear body cameras when interacting with the public in immigration enforcement operations;

• H.R. 944, The Access to Counsel Act, to ensure that U.S. citizens and individuals with lawful status are able to call an attorney or family member to seek legal assistance when they are detained;

• H.R. 5941, The Restoring Access for Detainees Act, to require DHS to allow noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families, and;

• H.R. 4456, Stop ICE from Kidnapping U.S. Citizens Act, to prohibit ICE from using federal funds to detain or deport U.S. citizens.

On June 12, 2025, Representative Tran, alongside Representatives Gil Cisneros (CA-31) and George Whitesides (CA-27), sent a letterto U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding answers regarding the deployment of armed forces to Los Angeles. During a recent House Armed Services Committee hearing, Tran pressed Secretary Hegsethon the militarized response to domestic protests and lack of coordination with state and local law enforcement to keep those community members who are exercising their First Amendment rights safe. Tran, joined by Representatives Cisneros and Judy Chu (CA-28), also led a letterto U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons condemning the agencies for unlawfully denying their entry to the Adelanto ICE Processing Facility during a statutorily-protected oversight visit conducted on June 8, 2025.

Since taking office in January 2025, Tran's office has opened over 230 cases to assist constituents related to the adjudication of their immigration status with federal agencies.

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Congressman Derek Tran represents California's 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.