Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)
Congresswoman Schrier released the following statement after voting against the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill:
“Protecting our national security is a paramount responsibility that I take very seriously. That is why I have a long record of ensuring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has the resources it needs to keep our nation safe.
“But what we are seeing now is a sharp and dangerous departure from the regular rule of law. The Trump Administration has weaponized the DHS-run Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) against the American people. The Administration promised to deport the worst of the worst, and instead, ICE is now terrorizing communities – killing American citizens, ripping families apart, and sowing fear. This is not what ICE and other law enforcement should be used for. Their actions are causing long-term harm that will be felt for decades after the Trump Administration leaves by undermining the trust that has been built between local law enforcement and the communities they protect.
“ICE is out of control and needs to be reined in through substantial measures that build accountability, transparency, and restore trust–especially in the wake of the horrific killing of a U.S. citizen that we saw in Minnesota. The package we voted on today fails to take even the most straightforward measures I’ve already called for to ensure accountability, like banning masks and other disguises, requiring officers to identify themselves, and mandating the use of body-worn cameras. Instead, it gives this agency more money without necessary guardrails, further enabling rogue and dangerous behavior that instills fear. That is why I voted against this DHS appropriations package.”