On Thursday, the Senate rejected legislation that included more funding for unchecked ICE terror in our communities. Our collective pressure is working. But our work isn’t over.
With no further votes expected before today’s deadline, we appear to be heading toward a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown that will impact important government functions like FEMA disaster relief and the Coast Guard. Meanwhile, ICE will continue to operate with a treasure chest of funds it was given in last year’s OBBBA.
Congress needs to stop the political theater and pass a bill that holds ICE and CBP accountable. That means:
- Not another penny for these rogue agencies to terrorize our communities with impunity.
- Real reforms, not just small tweaks, to protect our rights and keep us safe.
As the political standoff in Congress drags out, we continue to be inspired by the advocacy of people across the country who have showed up in a historic way for their neighbors in the face of ICE terror.
In Minnesota, former FCNL Young Adult Program Manager Katie Breslin has witnessed firsthand the toll that “Operation Metro Surge” has taken on her neighbors and community.
Unmarked ICE cars routinely swarm Breslin’s local gas station, targeting people based on their skin color. Renee Good and Alex Pretti were both killed within a mile of her home.
Yet, Breslin has also witnessed the extraordinary courage and solidarity that her community has shown in response – marching together in sub-zero temperatures, “organizing ‘grocery runs’ and ‘buddy rides’ for those too terrified to leave their doorsteps.”
“We are protecting the Light in one another, hoping that this will be enough to get us through to the other side,” Breslin wrote.
“Policymakers must exercise their authority in the same spirit to rein in this terror now. Winding down this surge is not enough. This nation needs accountability and oversight, and the clock is ticking.”
Elsewhere
Violence continues against the people of Latin America
The United States is continuing to attack boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. On Monday, the U.S. military blew up a boat, killing two people and leaving one survivor. This comes as Cuba is facing a deepening humanitarian crisis from the U.S. embargo. The Trump administration is continuing to threaten our neighbors in Latin America.
Lies about elections motivate radical new bill
The House passed the SAVE Act on Wednesday – legislation rooted in the lie that noncitizens participate in U.S. elections at any scale. It would block tens of millions of people from voting because they do not have ready access to passports or birth certificates – raising particular problems for people who have changed their name in marriage or for other reasons. Now this legislation goes to the Senate – which must reject this lie that is undermining our democracy.
Faith leaders lobbying for Truth and Healing
Last week, FCNL hosted a faith leader fly-in in support of the Indian Boarding School Truth and Healing Commission Bill (HR 7325/S.761). Thirteen faith leaders (pastors, deacons, a Franciscan sister, and one Friend) came to D.C to lobby for the bill, an important step in the federal government acknowledging its role in the brutal Indian Boarding School era.
Read more from FCNL’s Rachel Overstreet, who organized and led the event.
U.S. buys inhumane, indiscriminate weapons from Israel
The media reported this past week about a major weapons sale from Israel to the United States: $200 million in cluster munitions. These indiscriminate weapons are banned by the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions because they kill and maim civilians at huge rates and can linger for decades in impacted territory. Neither the U.S. nor Israel are signatories to this convention, although the United States has not used cluster munitions for nearly two decades and opposition to transferring these weapons has been growing in Congress.
The U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines - Cluster Munitions Coalition, which FCNL’s Ursala Knudsen-Latta co-chairs, is coordinating a response from U.S. civil society to this awful news.
