ACLU Statement on Senate Vote for Excessive ICE Funding Without Limitations

Senate blocks bill that would have provided blank check for ICE, following widespread condemnation from voters, business leaders in aftermath of killing of Alex Pretti

January 29, 2026 12:30 pm

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WASHINGTON 鈥 The Senate today blocked an appropriations bill that would have renewed ICE鈥檚 excessive budget with no strings attached. The vote comes less than a week after federal immigration agents killed 37-year-old ICU nurse, Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis, sparking nationwide protests against ICE and Border Patrol鈥檚 growing lawlessness and demands for Congress to rein in ICE鈥檚 abuses. More than joined the 老熟女午夜福利 in sending messages to their members of Congress urging them to reject any bill that would fuel ICE and Border Patrol鈥檚 lawless operations.

Now, Senate Democrats are calling for meaningful reforms, including an end to indiscriminate stops and warrantless arrests by ICE, enforceable standards and accountability for violent misconduct by federal agents, and requirements that agents identify themselves and take off their masks.

In response to this news, Kate Voigt, senior policy counsel at the ACLU, had the following reaction:

鈥淭oday鈥檚 vote is a testament to the power of the people, who made their voices heard and relentlessly called on their Senators to rein in ICE鈥檚 abuses. Public opinion is firmly against the violence, chaos, and abuse of our rights being inflicted by the Trump-Vance administration鈥檚 cruel mass deportation agenda. The American people don鈥檛 want to live in Stephen Miller鈥檚 dystopian police state.

鈥淲e applaud the senators refusing to be complicit in these police state tactics. Now we need them to insist on real, enforceable changes to rein in ICE and Border Patrol鈥檚 increasingly dangerous immigration enforcement operations. These safeguards aren鈥檛 just common sense 鈥 they're critical to the integrity of our laws and our freedom.鈥

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