Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)
Headline: Scott Votes Against GOP’S FY26 MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 3944, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill for FY 2026.
“While there are some provisions I support in the FY2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill, ultimately, this legislation fails to prioritize care for our veterans or adequately fund military construction. The bill will enact the Project 2025 goal of privatizing medical care for veterans by transferring billions of dollars away from the VA to private hospitals and clinics. This will force more veterans into an overburdened private health care system, leading to worse outcomes and longer wait times. This legislation also contains a provision that restricts access to reproductive health care for veterans.
“The bill worsens quality-of-life for our servicemembers and their families by underfunding critical military construction projects by $904 million below what is needed, and it leaves out critical funding for installation resilience and climate-related damage mitigation. The Hampton Roads region’s bases and military installations are already seriously at-risk of extreme weather events and flooding due to climate change.
“I am hopeful that as the bill moves to the Senate, the final enacted version of this legislation will ensure our veterans and their families receive the quality health care they earned. We must also make the necessary capital investments to improve quality-of-life for our servicemembers and mitigate the impact of climate-change on our military installations.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Supreme Court’s ruling inKennedy v.Braidwood Management, in which plaintiffs sought to weaken a provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that requires private health plans to cover preventive care services at no cost.
“Access to preventive care saves lives. By detecting health problems early on, preventive care helps us address serious diseases—such as colon cancer and high cholesterol—before they become complicated and more expensive to treat. For more than a decade, over four million people in my home of Virginia have been able to count on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to access these services without having to pay anything out of pocket.
“I am pleased that the Supreme Court recognized what we all know: that the structure of the ACA’s preventive services requirement is fundamentally sound. We cannot go back to a time when far too many Americans were forced to choose between financial stability and the care they needed to avert life-threatening diseases.
“While this decision is a victory for working people’s health, we cannot let our guard down. Right now, Congressional Republicans are attempting to make the largest cut to Medicaid in history in their ‘Big Ugly Bill.’ Under this legislation, 19 people will lose their health insurance for every millionaire who gets a tax break. Additionally, over four million Americans will lose access to their health coverage if Congressional Republicans do not extend the subsidies included in the Inflation Reduction Act. I am working with Congressional Democrats to stop these harmful and unfair cuts to working families’ health coverage.
“Moreover, after today’s ruling, it will also be more important than ever to hold the Trump Administration accountable for faithfully implementing this requirement to save lives, reduce racial and ethnic health inequities, and reduce the nation’s health care costs.”
In September 2022, Committee Democrats released areportexamining how the preventive services requirement under the ACA has helped provide access to preventive care for the millions of people with health coverage under the ACA, as well as the vast majority of people with coverage through their job.
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement after James E. Ryan, the President of the University of Virginia resigned.
“The University of Virginia (UVa) has consistently been recognized as one of the nation’s premier public universities because of its commitment to academic excellence. However, today’s decision of UVa President James E. Ryan to resign because of the Trump Administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) threat to withhold federal funds is an attack on due process, the independence and integrity of ‘academic freedom’ in higher education, and the UVa’s effort to address its own history.
“UnderTitle VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the DOJ is not authorized to impose sanctions until it has concluded that the university violated the law, and it would not redress the abuse. The DOJ’s demand that Ryan step down was both premature and a perversion of the civil rights resolution practice.
“During Trump’s first administration, UVa was the scene of white supremacists’ Unite the Right march where white supremacists’ chanted ‘you will not replace us, Jews will not replace us.’ Then-President Trump’s response to the violence and the death of Heather Heyer was that there were ‘very fine people on both sides.’
“As a result, President Ryan was brought to UVa in 2018 to improve the university’s racial climate, learning environment, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts. Under President Ryan’s tenure, UVa has beenrecognizedfor its commitment to free speech,financial aid among public universitiesfor the fourth year in a row, and this year, 10,000 first-generation students applied to UVa. All indications are that President Ryan was very popular among the academicians and students alike.
“As a country, we are all worse off because of the Trump Administration’s crusade against diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, while there has been no crusade against racial discrimination. Ryan’s resignation, therefore, signals to the higher education community that diversity as a positive value is now diminished and that segregation is to be celebrated. This situation is made worse because of the willingness of universities and businesses to quickly capitulate.”
Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)
Headline: Scott Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Trump v. Casa Limiting National Injunctions
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Casa, Inc. limiting the ability of federal judges to issue national injunctions:
“The Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority has again delivered a decision that further erodes the ability of an equal branch of the federal government to check the abuse of power of President Trump and his administration. While the Court did not address the merits of the President’s executive order ending birthright citizenship, contrary to the plain language of the 14th amendment of the Constitution, this decision effectively ends the ability of federal judges to stop illegal executive actions through national injunctions.
“In practice, this decision to limit the nationwide injunction regarding the birthright status of a person creates an absurd situation where a person who resides in one state can be a citizen, but if he moves to another state, can become a non-citizen, just by virtue of the federal judicial orders in effect at the time. And could a non-citizen gain citizenship by moving to the right state? It would be ridiculous to have the determination of citizenship based on the state you live in or move into.
“I believe the Supreme Court will ultimately find the President’s executive order unconstitutional. However, without the ability of lower courts to issue a national injunction to stay this executive order as the case continues to move through the judicial process, this decision will lead to significant and irreparable harm for the individuals impacted in the 28 states that have not challenged the executive order creating a significant administrative and legal nightmare.”
Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)
Headline: Scott Votes Against GOP’s Big, Ugly Bill. Again.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce and a member of the House Committee on the Budget, issued the following statement after voting against the Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill:
“Once again, Republicans rushed to jam their Big, Ugly Bill through Congress. Their bill will have serious consequences for America’s working families. The Congressional Budget Office predicts that 17 million people will lose their health insurance, including over 322,000 Virginians. It will make college less affordable. Three million people will lose access to food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). And up to 16 million students could lose access to free school meals. The Republican bill does all of this to fund tax breaks for millionaires, billionaires and corporations. And it makes annual deficits and the national debt worse than they would be if we did nothing.
“For years, we have heard Congressional Republicans preach about fiscal responsibility and complain about deficits and the national debt. Yet they just voted for a bill that will add an estimated 3.4 trillion dollars to our deficitand that does not even include the cost of interest. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, because every Republican administration since President Nixon has left for their Democratic successors a worse budget deficit than the one they inherited. And every Democratic administration since President Kennedy has left for their Republican successors a better deficit situation than the one they inherited. All without exception.
“This bill is a collection of policies that will harm America’s working families, bestow tax breaks on the wealthy, and significantly increase the national debt. Every single Democrat in Congress voted against it, while almost every Republican in Congress voted for it while having the audacity to try to call the legislation ‘beautiful.’”
For more information about cuts to education and nutrition programs, click hereand here.
For more information about how the bill betrays the middle class, click here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted against Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill, which betrays working families by making the largest cuts toMedicaidandSNAPin history to fund more tax breaks thatoverwhelmingly benefitthe wealthiest Americans, whileadding trillionsto the national debt.
“Despite Democratic warnings about electing a billionaire with a long history of failed businesses and a reputation for stiffing workers, the American people re-elected Donald Trump under the guise that he would protect programs like Medicaid and fight for hardworking families and forgotten communities. With the passage of President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill, those lofty promises will go unfulfilled and American families will experience thelargest transfer of wealthfrom the working-class to the exorbitantly wealthy in American history—a travesty that could take decades to undo.
“According to the nonpartisanCongressional Budget Office,nonpartisaneconomists, and even a handful of courageousRepublicanswilling to speak the truth, the Big Ugly Bill makes the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in the history of these vital programs. It will rip healthcare away from17 millionAmericans, including 265,000 in Missouri, take food assistance away from five million families, and eliminate access to school meals for 18 million children.
“For those who do not lose access to these programs, it will sendenergy pricesandhealthcare costssoaring, as it makes massive cuts to critical investments in clean energy and the Affordable Care Act. For our kids and grandkids, it will saddle them with at least another three trillion dollars in additional debt. And it enacts all of these painful and pitiful policies to provide more tax breaksto the wealthiestfamilies in our communities, ensuring the widening chasm in income inequality accelerates to a dangerous degree.
“At a time when American families are struggling with the cost of living, it is morally reprehensible and supremely sinful to take from the poor to give more handouts to the richest among us—but that is precisely what President Trump and Republicans have chosen to do. As Democrats in Congress continue the fight to rollback these deeply regressive policies so that we can invest in communities and lower costs for hardworking families in the years to come, this betrayal will not be forgotten by the American people.”
According to independent estimates, Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill will:
Kick 17 million Americans off their health insurance and make premiums, deductibles, and copays soar for millions more: The bill cuts more than $1 trillion from healthcare, including the largest cut to Medicaid in history, and could cause a $500 billion cut to Medicare. According to one analysis,more than 50,000 peoplewill die annually because of these cuts.
Cut staff and close hospitals and nursing homes in communities nationwide: As many as 300 hospitals, especially those in rural areas, will have to cut services and staff – if not close completely. One in four nursing homes are estimated to close.
Make largest cut to nutritional assistance in history: The bill cuts SNAP by 20 percent, while forcing states to cover more of SNAP’s cost – which could lead to dozens of states eliminating SNAP entirely. Red tape requirements will cause 5 million people to lose food assistance and put roughly 18 million kids at risk of losing school breakfast and lunch.
Increase energy costs: With devastating cuts to clean energy, families will pay an average of $400 more per year in energy costs nationwide. Seniors and low-income people will also have an even harder time getting assistance to pay their energy bills.
Kill more than a million jobs: Data show that massive cuts to clean energy will cost more than 840,000 jobs in just the next five years and an additional 790,000 jobs over the next ten years.
Weaken our public schools and make higher education more expensive: The bill creates a permanent, unlimited tax credit for private school vouchers that undermine our public schools, while attacking protections for student borrowers and cutting Pell grants for working class students.
Add more than $3.3 trillion to the national debt: This does not include an additional estimated $700 billion in interest payments expected over the next ten years. The bill will cause our debt to rise to as much as 128% of our GDP by 2034, threatening to bankrupt our country and mortgaging our children’s futures.
Overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest 1% of Americans: The bill gives almost a trillion dollars in tax cuts to the top 1% of households, transferring money from the poorest Americans to the wealthiest. People making over $1 million will have an average tax cut of at least $80,000 a year while the bottom 20% of families will see their taxes rise.
According to theHouse Committee on the Budget, the Big Ugly Bill will have the following impact on Missouri’s 5th Congressional District:
Rip healthcare away from Missouri families and raise healthcare costs: An estimated 265,298 Missourians will lose health insurance, and Missourians covered under the Affordable Care Act will see an average increase of $710 in premiums. Four rural hospitals across the state will be at risk of closing due to Medicaid cuts.
Raise food costs: At least 58,000 Missourians are at risk of lose some or all food assistance.
Kill manufacturing jobs and raise energy costs: 37,000 manufacturing and energy jobs in Missouri will be eliminated. Missourians will see an $800 average yearly increase in energy bills due to cuts to clean energy.
Increase the cost of higher education: 66,960 students in Missouri could have their Pell grants cut or eliminated entirely.
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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)
(Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) announced the City of Kansas City has been awarded a $3.5 million federal grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to clean up brownfield sites within the city. The federal funding, which Cleaver helped secure through his support for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will invest in Kansas City’s Brownfields Supplemental Revolving Loan Fund, which provides loans and subgrants to remediate and redevelop projects at brownfield sites throughout Kansas City.
“From investments in new roads and bridges to funding that enables the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites like the Hardesty Federal Complex, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to fuel a remarkable economic comeback in Kansas City,” said Congressman Cleaver. “While we’ve come a long way since the dark days of the global pandemic, thanks in part to investments like this, there is still so much work that can be done to boost economic development in underserved communities across the metro area – and this funding will help support those efforts. I’m proud to have helped secure this $3.5 million for Kansas City, and I’ll continue fighting every day to bring more investments that support Missouri workers and small businesses back to the Fifth Congressional District.”
Specifically, this funding will assist in re-capitalizing Kansas City’s Revolving Loan Fund from which the City can make loans and subgrants to clean up brownfield sites, ensuring more projects can be funded.
Thanks to the historic $1.5 billion boost from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA’s Brownfields program is helping more communities than ever before begin to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges caused by brownfields and stimulate economic opportunity and environmental revitalization in historically overburdened communities.
Since passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Kansas City has received more than $18.5 million in brownfields grants, supporting over a dozen remediation projects across the city. In 2022, Rep. Cleaver announced $5.5 million in federal brownfields grants awarded to Kansas City, supporting the cleanup of the Hardesty Federal Complex Buildings. Last September, Congressman Cleaver joined EPA Region 7 to announce$4.5 million in federal brownfields grants for Kansas City’s Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund. This May, Congressman Cleaver announced a $4 million brownfields grant to clean up 47 vacant parcels known as the Washington Wheatley Vacant Lots Site, as well as the former Benson Manufacturing Company Site.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or matthew.helfant@mail.house.gov
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)
(Kansas City, MO) – Following a months-long bipartisan push to secure federal funding to strengthen security services at host cities during the 2026 World Cup, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) and Sharice Davids (KS-03) announced today that Congress has passed $625 million to support safety and security efforts during the event.
“The 2026 World Cup is an opportunity to showcase Kansas City on the world stage, demonstrating our status as a welcoming, beautiful, and first-rate city to hundreds of thousands of people from around the globe. However, with this temporary swell in population, it is imperative that we also increase security services for the safety of visitors and residents alike, which is no small task for an event this large,” said Congressman Cleaver. “After joining with representatives from across the country to push for federal investments that will ensure a safe and orderly event, I’m very happy that we were able to secure $625 million to support security efforts in the 11 host cities, including Kansas City.”
“Hosting the World Cup is an incredible opportunity for Kansas City — not just to welcome the world, but to show the world who we are. With hundreds of thousands of visitors expected, ensuring public safety must be a top priority. I’ve been proud to work with Congressman Cleaver and a bipartisan group of colleagues to advocate for these much-needed resources, and I’ll keep working to make sure Kansas City is ready to shine on the global stage,” said Representative Sharice Davids.
Kansas City will host six matches, as well as a minimum of eight teams, during the FIFA 2026 World Cup. According to estimates, Kansas City is expected to welcome 650,000 visitors during the month-long event.
Over the past year, Representatives Cleaver and Davids, Co-Chair of the Congressional FIFA World Cup 2026 Caucus, have worked across party lines to build support for federal investments in World Cup host cities.
Last September, the lawmakerscalledon the Biden administration to establish a White House Task Force on Global Sporting Events to oversee preparation for events like the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics. In December,Cleaverand Davids joined a bipartisan coalition tocall onCongress to provide $625 million to support security efforts during the 2026 World Cup. In April, led by Rep. Davids, the lawmakersagaincalled on the Trump administration to provide $625 million in federal funding to strengthen security services at World Cup host cities.
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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference at CrescentCare, a federally qualified health center in Louisiana, with Rep. Troy Carter (LA-02) and Steering and Policy Committee Co-Chairs Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44) to highlight how Donald Trump’s budget devastates the healthcare of the American people and outline how House Democrats will hold House Republicans accountable for voting to pass their One Big Ugly Law.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning. It’s an honor and a privilege to be here in the great state of Louisiana, in this all-American city. Certainly thankful for the leadership of Congressman Troy Carter, for his partnership and his friendship, standing up, fighting hard each and every day on behalf of the people that he is privileged to represent here in Louisiana’s Second Congressional District. Let me thank Alice and the people at CrescentCare for the work that you do on behalf of the people in this community and all across the city and the state to ensure that they have access to high-quality care that is both compassionate and comprehensive. And our commitment is to make sure that we fight for every single person in this state, every single American across the country, to ensure that they can get the high-quality, affordable healthcare that people in this country, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, deserve.
We believe that access to high-quality and affordable healthcare shouldn’t simply be a privilege available to the wealthy and the well-off. It’s a right. It should be available to every single person in the state of Louisiana, and every single person in this great country. Unfortunately, the One Big Ugly Bill that has been jammed down the throats of the American people represents the largest assault on Medicaid and healthcare in American history. The One Big Ugly Bill will have devastating consequences for the people of Louisiana who rely upon Medicaid to get their health service, to address their medical needs, to be able to live with dignity and respect in a nursing home setting, to have hospitals that are available to them and not closed, particularly in parts of rural Louisiana, and to be able to get the type of compassionate primary care that exists at community-based health clinics like this one. But this struggle is not over. We’re just at the beginning. We’re going to fight hard to make sure that the devastating Medicaid cuts that are now part of this One Big Ugly Law that has been signed can be pushed back—not for Democrats, Independents and Republicans, but for all Americans. That is our struggle. That is our commitment. That is the fight that we are waging on behalf of the people of Louisiana and on behalf of the people of this great country.
The Louisiana state legislature, in an overwhelming and bipartisan way, passed a resolution, making clear that cuts to Medicaid will be devastating for the people of Louisiana, whether you’re in an urban part of the state, suburban part of the state, a small-town part of the state, a rural part of the state, it will be devastating, these cuts to Medicaid, to the people of Louisiana. The assault on healthcare is unacceptable, unconscionable and un-American. And I’m thankful for the leadership of Congressman Troy Carter in standing up for the people of this great state and helping to work with people from all across the political spectrum to do what is necessary to push back against the cuts that have now been enacted to educate the people of Louisiana and throughout the nation as to how damaging this One Big Ugly Bill will be to their quality of life. But most importantly, to assure everyone that our commitment is to continue to show up and stand up and speak up for your healthcare, for your quality of life, for an America where when you work hard and play by the rules, you can live a good life, have a good-paying job, good healthcare, good housing, good education for your children and, of course, a good retirement. That is our commitment to you, and we will not stop fighting until we can end this national nightmare and bring about an America that is the best version of herself.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)
Washington, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons demanding answers about recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in Ventura County, California. These operations, which took place at a farm in Camarillo, have sparked widespread fear and raised serious concerns about the agency’s tactics, transparency, and adherence to due process.
“The farmworkers detained in these raids are clearly in the United States to fill jobs that employers cannot otherwise fill,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “Their undocumented status is not by choice, but a direct result of Congress’ ongoing failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would allow a sufficient number of workers into the country and provide a viable pathway to citizenship. Instead of working to build this pathway, the government is spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to deport, in such a cruel and callous way, the exact individuals who would be covered by a comprehensive immigration reform package. Congress refuses to take up comprehensive immigration reform for purely partisan reasons.”
In the letter, Brownley demanded urgent answers about the “legal basis, execution, and impact” of these raids on our community.
“The sudden and ominous nature of ICE’s presence and tactics has sown fear, disrupted lives, and raised serious questions about ICE’s adherence to due process and established policies,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “According to reports and eyewitness accounts, there are significant concerns about the conduct of ICE’s enforcement activities, including potential violations of civil rights and the harmful impact on public trust.”
“As you undoubtedly are aware, these recent ICE actions have had a chilling effect on the entire community, causing fear among families, workers, students, and business owners. Many residents are now afraid to go to work, take their children to school, or seek medical care out of concern for their safety and legal status. Furthermore, such actions erode trust in law enforcement and local government, making it more difficult for authorities to maintain public safety and community cooperation.”
In the letter, Congresswoman Brownley demanded ICE & DHS provide immediate and accurate information on their immigration enforcement activities, including:
The number of individuals arrested and their current status, including whether any face deportation or expedited removal
The rationale behind targeting Ventura County and what prompted this enforcement operation
The locations where detained individuals are being held
Whether agents entered non-public areas without warrants or consent, and details of any permissions granted
Whether arrests were made with or without warrants, and if ICE followed federal guidelines for warrantless arrests
The criteria used to determine whom to question, and whether race, ethnicity, or language were factors
Whether U.S. citizens, legal residents, DACA recipients, visa holders, or veterans were detained, and how their rights were safeguarded
What engagement, if any, occurred with local law enforcement, community organizations, or legal aid groups to ensure transparency and due process
Whether detained individuals have had access to legal counsel or been allowed to notify family members
The process for family and attorneys to locate, contact, or visit detained individuals
The Department of Homeland Security has confirmed receipt of the letter but has yet to provide responses to the questions posed by Congresswoman Brownley. The Department also never responded to Brownley’s prior inquiries on immigration raids earlier in the year in Ventura County.
The Honorable Kristi Noem Secretary U.S. Department of Homeland Security 2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE Washington, DC 20528-0525
Mr. Todd M. Lyons Acting Director U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 500 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20536-5010
Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,
I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in my district in Ventura County, California and to seek urgent answers about its legal basis, execution, and impact on our community.
California’s 26th Congressional District is home to a diverse and hard-working population- families, small business owners, service workers, educators, veterans, and farmworkers – who all contribute to the social and economic fabric of Ventura County. While my constituents and I understand the important role ICE plays in protecting our nation from violent criminals, sex traffickers, and gang members, we also believe ICE should focus its resources on deporting those who pose a real danger to the public, not hard working individuals who are making positive contributions to our nation, working in hard-to-fill jobs, paying taxes, and raising their children.
The sudden and ominous nature of ICE’s presence and tactics has sown fear, disrupted lives, and raised serious questions about ICE’s adherence to due process and established policies. According to reports and eyewitness accounts, there are significant concerns about the conduct of ICE’s enforcement activities, including potential violations of civil rights and the harmful impact on public trust.
For months, I have heard from agriculture industry representatives who have contacted my office to express concerns about the impacts of ICE’s activities on farm operations, as farmworkers — who are essential workers — may fear showing up to work. Last month, ICE chased farmworkers through the fields of Oxnard and Santa Paula; and today, the nation watched as ICE officers descended upon a local agricultural grower and rounded up dozens of individuals and deploying tear gas against concerned local residents, who came to protest ICE’s harsh tactics.
In light of these concerns, I am requesting prompt answers to the following questions:
How many individuals were arrested during ICE’s activities in my district? What is the status of each individual arrested, and are any facing imminent deportation proceedings? Has anyone been placed in expedited removal or administrative removal?
Why has Ventura County been targeted for ICE’s enforcement tactics? What sparked this sudden effort?
Where are individuals who were taken being detained?
Did ICE agents enter non-public areas of businesses or residential buildings? If so, did they have judicial warrants authorizing such access, or was consent obtained? Please provide details on any permissions granted, including by whom and under what circumstances.
Did ICE have specific arrest warrants for individuals in Ventura County, or were any arrests made without a warrant? If warrantless arrests were made, did ICE comply with the nationwide warrantless arrest policy under the Castanon Nava settlement, including requirements for probable cause and proper documentation?
What criteria did ICE agents use in determining whom to question? Were race, ethnicity, or language proficiency factors in those decisions? For each person questioned, please specify the justification for their detainment or interrogation.
Were U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, DACA recipients, visa holders, or veterans among those questioned or detained? If so, how were their rights protected during this operation?
What measures, if any, were taken to engage with local law enforcement, community organizations, or legal aid groups before or after this action to ensure transparency and due process?
For individuals detained, how many have had access to legal counsel? How many have been allowed to notify family members and loved ones of their location and reasons for detention?
What is the process for such notifications, and what is the process for loved ones and legal counsel to visit with or talk to those detained?
As you undoubtedly are aware, these recent ICE actions have had a chilling effect on the entire community, causing fear among families, workers, students, and business owners. Many residents are now afraid to go to work, take their children to school, or seek medical care out of concern for their safety and legal status. Furthermore, such actions erode trust in law enforcement and local government, making it more difficult for authorities to maintain public safety and community cooperation. Targeting hardworking immigrants is also contrary to our values as a nation, as we are a nation made up largely of immigrants whose ancestors all came to the United States to make better lives for themselves and their families.
The 26th Congressional District of California is a vibrant and inclusive region where people of all backgrounds work hard to build better lives for themselves and their families. Actions that instill fear and division harm not only those directly impacted but also the broader social and economic stability of our communities. Given these serious concerns, I request a detailed response to my questions no later than July 18, 2025.