Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Know Your Immigration Rights
If you or a loved one encounter immigration enforcement officials, it is essential that you know your rights and have prepared your household for all possible outcomes.
Ask for a warrant: The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution protects you from unreasonable search and seizure. You do not have to open your door until you see a valid warrant to enter your home or search your belongings.
Your right to remain silent: The Fifth Amendment protects your right to remain silent and not incriminate yourself. You are not required to share any personal information such as your place of birth, immigration status or criminal history.
Always consult an attorney: You have a right to speak with an attorney. You do not have to sign anything or hand officials any documents without speaking to an attorney. Try to identify and consult one in advance.
The New York City Office of Civil Justice and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) support a variety of free immigration legal services through local nonprofit legal organizations. To access these resources, dial 311 and say “Action NYC,” call the MOIA Immigration Legal Support Hotline at 800-354-0365 Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit MOIA’s website.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)
Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22), Ranking Member of the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced a sweeping expansion of the Global Gag Rule—a policy that cuts off U.S. foreign assistance to international organizations that provide, refer for, or even discuss abortion as a legal medical option, even when using their own non-U.S. funds.
The expansion dramatically broadens the rule’s reach, applying it to nearly all non-military foreign assistance and conditioning aid not only on abortion-related restrictions, but also on compliance with the Administration’s ideological positions on LGBTQ rights, diversity, equity, inclusion, and so-called “gender ideology.” It also extends the policy to U.S.-based organizations working overseas and foreign governments.
By forcing the State Department to police the policies of thousands of organizations and governments, this change threatens to disrupt emergency response, weaken health systems, damage global partnerships, and increase the risk of conflict and disease outbreaks—making the world, and the United States, less safe.
“This reckless expansion turns lifesaving aid into an ideological loyalty test,” said Ranking Member Frankel. “It will slow emergency response, undermine trusted partnerships, handicap our ability to prevent instability and respond to humanitarian crises, and make it more likely for disease to reach our shores. It is a shortsighted and cruel mandate for our already weakened foreign assistance tools. ”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)
Washington, D.C. – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today issued a statement on renewed armed clashes in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region.
“The recent fighting in Tigray risks embroiling Ethiopia back into a civil war that endangers millions of lives, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis and destabilizing the broader region. No party stands to benefit from a return to violence.
“I call on the parties to immediately cease all hostilities and grant humanitarian organizations unfettered access to civilians in need. Full implementation of the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement is essential if credible elections are to proceed in June. The political challenges facing Ethiopia cannot be resolved on the battlefield. Diplomacy and free and fair elections are the only viable means of securing a better future for the Ethiopian people.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Recently, Congressman Pete Stauber celebrated President Trump signing into law a key Fiscal Year 2026 spending bill, H.R. 6938, Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. This measure secures more than $10 million in Community Project Funding for critical infrastructure and water projects throughout Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District, delivering tangible investments that will strengthen communities, enhance water quality, and support economic growth across the Northland. Congressman Stauber released the following statement:
“Making sure Minnesotans have access to clean and reliable water has always been a top priority of mine, and I’m proud to have secured more than $10 million for these vital projects. These funds will improve water treatment facilities, upgrade wastewater systems, and build stronger infrastructure across the Eighth District. I’ll continue working hard to bring federal dollars home to the Northland and support our communities.”
Interior:
$1,750,000 for The City of Duluth Water Treatment Plant Rehabilitation $2,000,000 for City of Ely Drinking Water Supply Intake and Water Main Replacement $1,061,000 for City of Nashwauk Third Street Infrastructure Improvements Project $1,000,000 for Hibbing Water, Access, Treatment, Expansion, & Reliability Projects (Hib-WATER) $1,000,000 for Kettle River’s Infrastructure Improvements $330,000 for City of Cook Pond Improvements $750,000 for Coleraine City-Wide Infrastructure Project $750,000 for Keewatin City-Wide Infrastructure Project $750,000 for Pine City Wastewater Treatment Pond System Upgrade $750,000 for Mountain Iron/Eveleth Watermain Loop $750,000 for Northern Township Wastewater Project
These appropriations reflect Congressman Stauber’s persistent advocacy in Congress to prioritize America First policies, deliver results for constituents, and ensure that northern Minnesota receives its fair share of federal investments. By partnering with President Trump’s administration and House leadership, the Congressman has guaranteed funding for the district that will create jobs, protect public health, and lay the foundation for a more prosperous future in the Eighth District.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)
GUILDERLAND, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko visited Guilderland High School yesterday to recognize Daniel Joseph, the winning student for the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for New York’s 20th Congressional District. During the visit, Tonko delivered congratulatory remarks and presented Daniel with a Congressional Certificate of Achievement and a letter of recognition for his outstanding work.
“Every year, I am continually impressed by the talent and pioneering spirit shown by our Capital Region students through their submissions for the Congressional App Challenge,” Congressman Tonko said, “and this year was no exception. With his innovative MedMate app, Daniel Joseph demonstrated not only his excellent coding skills, but also his admirable commitment to helping our health care workers deliver high-quality care to every patient. I’m proud to welcome Daniel into the storied ranks of Capital Region innovators, and I’m grateful to him for his hard work. Congratulations to all the students who participated in this year’s App Challenge!”
Daniel grew up surrounded by health care workers, including his mother, sister, grandmother, and aunts who all worked as nurses. After his sister mentioned that her nursing school assignments lacked the real-world experiences that would be found in an actual medical environment, Daniel set out to create an app that would give care providers and students like his sister a way to practice treating, assessing, and diagnosing patients while receiving valuable feedback.
His winning submission, MedMate, is an immersive medical training application that helps users sharpen their clinical skills by simulating real-life interactions with patients. The app provides users with a patient intake form containing the patient’s past medical history, an interactive AI Avatar that responds realistically to questions, and a diagnostic process that allows the users to ask questions, run tests, make a diagnosis, and receive feedback on their performance — effectively mirroring real-life clinical interactions to help users develop practical diagnostic skills and clinical reasoning.
You can learn more about the app by viewing Daniel’s submission video on YouTube.
This year’s NY-20 Congressional App Challenge winner was chosen by a distinguished panel of local judges including Dr. Mohammed J. Zaki, Professor and Department Head of Computer Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Annmarie Lanesey, CEO and Founder of CanCode Communities, and Tobi Saulnier, CEO of 1st Playable Productions.
The Congressional App Challenge was created by Congress in 2013 to encourage innovation and engagement in coding, computer science, and STEM education. The App Challenge is open to all eligible middle and high school-aged students in New York’s 20th Congressional District, regardless of coding experience.
To view and download photos of Congressman Tonko’s visit with Daniel, see the Congressman’s social media posts HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)
Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the launch of her annual Valentines for Vets program, which collects and distributes Valentine’s Day cards to veterans and their caregivers across Kansas’ Third District. Residents are encouraged to drop off cards in person or mail them to Davids’ Overland Park office from now through Friday, February 13. Davids will personally deliver the cards to Kansas veterans and caregivers at a local Veterans Affairs (VA) facility.
“The Valentines for Vets program offers us a way to show our appreciation for those who have sacrificed so much to keep us safe,” said Davids. “I hope many of our neighbors here in Kansas will choose to participate in this heartwarming tradition, as I know our office looks forward to delivering these messages of gratitude to veterans and their families each year.”
Drop off or mail cards to:
Office of Representative Sharice Davids
9200 Indian Creek Parkway Suite 562
Overland Park, KS 66210
In previous years, Kansans have crafted hundreds of handwritten messages for local veterans as part of Davids’ “Valentines for Vets” program. For additional information, please call (913) 621-0832.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)
SEATTLE, WA — U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) are demanding that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi end Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations in Minnesota. Jayapal and Omar led a field hearing in Minnesota in the days between the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti to urge accountability and lift the stories of US citizens and immigrants being terrorized in the Twin Cities.
“At our hearing, we heard from incredibly powerful witnesses — members of the community who are standing up for their neighbors, and even those who have been detained and had their rights violated for no reason,” wrote the Members. “Throughout the hearing, it became clear to all of us that the increase in DHS personnel is making the Twin Cities less safe. Unfortunately, it appears the President and your Department are deliberately escalating tensions in Minnesota with a pattern of reckless, unlawful, and inhumane conduct against the people living in the Twin Cities.”
In the hearing, attended by more than two dozen Members from 18 states, participants heard from Mayors Jacob Frey and Kaohly Her, Attorney General Keith Ellison, as well as US citizens who ICE had detained. Outside the hearing, Members met with directly impacted people from across the Twin Cities to hear off-the-record testimony on the terror they had been experiencing.
“We demand you put an end to these lawless actions by your agencies and remove this surge of ICE and CBP from the Twin Cities. The people of Minnesota deserve better,” continued the Members.
In the letter, the Members outline the testimony that they all heard during the hearing, as well as horrific cases that have happened since. The full text of the letter can be read here.
The letter was also signed by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Katherine Clark (MA-05), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (IL-04), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Ted Lieu (CA-36), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Kelly Morrison (MN-03), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Emily Randall (WA-06), Luz Rivas (CA-29), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and James Walkinshaw (VA-11).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)
WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01), is calling on Governor Wes Moore to stop deleting posts and public comments from official government social media accounts. In April 2018, a federal court ruling in the ACLU’s case against former Governor Larry Hogan established that official government social media accounts open to public comment are protected public forums under the First Amendment.
The 2018 settlement in the ACLU’s case against former Governor Larry Hogan required the Governor’s office to implement new social media guidelines that prohibit viewpoint discrimination, expand public access to official platforms, create an additional forum for constituent engagement, establish procedures to contest restrictions on access, and apply these standards across all official social media accounts.
Statement from Congressman Harris:
“Why is ‘the most transparent administration ever’ deleting Facebook posts on an official account? Could it be that presidential candidate Wes Moore didn’t like the comments? Deleting posts or blocking on official accounts is illegal. The ACLU sued Governor Hogan over this issue. Is the ACLU going to sue Wes Moore? I doubt it. But maybe we will. I’d love to see those comments on his partisan redistricting scheme.”
For more information, please click on the link here.
For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)
For Immediate Release Contact: Tionee Scotland
January 29, 2026 202-808-6129
PRESS RELEASE
CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT’S STATEMENT ON ARRESTS OF INDIVIDUALS RELATED TO VI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES MEDICAID AND SNAP PROGRAMS
ST. CROIX, USVI— Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (D-USVI) released the following statement regarding the recent arrests of multiple individuals connected to the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services Medicaid and SNAP programs:
“I have been informed of the recent arrests of eleven individuals connected to the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services Medicaid department.
“Medicaid and SNAP are critical programs that provide healthcare access and food security to our most vulnerable residents—seniors, children, people with disabilities, and low-income families. In communities like ours, where healthcare resources are already limited and food costs are high, these programs serve as essential lifelines for thousands of Virgin Islanders. They should not be tampered with or put in jeopardy by illegal activity.
“I commend the law enforcement agencies involved in investigating the alleged fraud. My office will await additional information as the investigation proceeds and the legal process moves forward.
“This situation highlights our responsibility as leaders to strengthen and protect the social safety nets that serve those living in our community. We must ensure that programs designed to help our most needy residents function with integrity and remain accessible to those who depend on them. Ensuring that all Virgin Islanders have access to livable wages, resources to meet basic needs, and affordable healthcare are some of my goals as a leader and I am certain we all wish the same. I ask that our community allow the legal process to work.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on Fox News’ The Story, where he made clear that House and Senate Democrats are aligned on the need to hold DHS and the Trump administration accountable for the extremism they are unleashing on the American people.
MARTHA MACCALLUM: Leader Jeffries, thank you very much for joining us today. How does that potential deal sound to you?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we want to avoid a government shutdown, but it’s necessary to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security dramatically changes the way in which it has been conducting itself. Taxpayer dollars should be used to address the affordability crisis here in the United States of America, which is very real. It’s not a hoax. It’s ongoing, by the way. Taxpayer dollars should not be used to brutalize or kill American citizens or to violently target law-abiding immigrant families. So there are a variety of reforms that need to be put into place that the American people are demanding. Your own poll has shown that everyday Americans have concluded that ICE has gone too far and that behavior needs to be reined in.
MARTHA MACCALLUM: So one of the issues here is that ICE’s funding is already on the books through the Big Beautiful Bill. I know you have another name for it, but that’s already on the books through 2029. So if a shutdown happens, which is sounding more and more likely because the House isn’t in session until Monday or Tuesday, I think at the earliest, so why would you risk potentially allowing FEMA and TSA and the Coast Guard to lose funding over this?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, thank you for bringing up the One Big Ugly Bill because this actually highlights the problems that my Republican colleagues have actually been focused on the wrong issues. In the One Big Ugly Bill, they enacted the largest cut to Medicaid in American history, literally ripping healthcare away from about 14 million Americans. Hospitals, nursing homes, community-based health clinics are closing as a result of what they have done. In that same bill, they cut nutritional assistance to hungry children, families, veterans and seniors by $186 billion—the largest cut to food assistance in the history of the country. And in that very same bill, you’re right, they gave the Department of Homeland Security an additional $191 billion and gave ICE $75 billion. They’re using that money to unleash masked agents on American communities, on law-abiding immigrant families. And in some instances, killing American people—
MARTHA MACCALLUM: With respect, that bill passed. It passed—
LEADER JEFFRIES: That’s right—
MARTHA MACCALLUM: So now then the issue before you is are you going to encourage the House to sign on to this deal, which looks like it’s coming together, to keep the government open, to pass the five bills to allow a CR for Department of Homeland Security? Are you going to encourage your Members to be on board with that? Are you and Senator Schumer on the same page here today?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, we have to evaluate what emerges from the Senate, and we’ll do that on the merits. We have said, and we’re in complete lockstep with Senator Schumer—Leader Schumer—and our colleagues in the Senate that we need to pass the five bipartisan bills that strongly emerged with support from Democrats and Republicans originally out of the House of Representatives. And we certainly will be supportive of getting those over the finish line—
MARTHA MACCALLUM: Yeah, but they were also okay with the sixth bill. This—we should remind people that these six bills were signed as part of the hangover from the last shutdown. And they were all agreed to before what happened in Minneapolis, which was very tragic, but Minneapolis is a unique situation. You’re not seeing what we’re seeing in Minneapolis in other places in the country. So why hold up potentially this funding on a bill that everyone agreed to, both sides agreed to, in the first round?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, let me address the statement that you just made because that’s inaccurate. The Homeland Security funding bill was before the House prior to the cold-blooded killing of Alex Pretti, and the overwhelming majority of House Democrats voted against it. And we were very clear why we were voting against it. Because we believe thatthere should be a prohibition on ICE deporting or detaining American citizens. We believe that ICE should conduct itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country. We believe that ICE shouldn’t run around with masks. We believe they should have body cameras. We believe that judicial warrants should be available before ICE is storming homes or ripping people out of their cars. These are pretty basic demands—
MARTHA MACCALLUM: Let me ask a question, if I may. They are, but these are policy issues. These are not funding appropriations issues. So, because of that, it feels a little bit like the last shutdown when it became about healthcare policy and kind of holding that hostage. Is that the way this is going again? Sort of treating this as if it’s policy, how the agency runs, which is really a different category than the appropriations bill. And I would mention again, this ICE funding, whether—I know you don’t like it—but it’s a done deal till 2029.
LEADER JEFFRIES: Donald Trump and Republicans shut the government down for 43 days in the fall. Democrats were very clear. We’ll find a bipartisan path forward. We just were not going to support continuing efforts to gut the healthcare of the American people. And right now our position is pretty clear—it’s shared by the American people—that ICE should conduct itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country and not brutalize everyday Americans abusing taxpayer dollars. We’ll consider any bill that comes out of the Senate on its merits, and we’ll see what happens when that—
MARTHA MACCALLUM: I mean, you said earlier that you and Schumer are on the same page, Senator Schumer, are on the same page. Here’s Tom Homan, who is now overseeing the operations in Minneapolis. Let’s watch—Minnesota.
RECORDING OF TOM HOMAN: I said in March, if the rhetoric didn’t stop, there’s going to be bloodshed, and there has been. But if people out there don’t like what ICE is doing, if you want certain laws reformed, then take it up with Congress. Again, ICE isn’t making this up. They’re enforcing laws enacted by Congress and signed by the President. The same laws have been on the books for the last six presidents I’ve worked for.
MARTHA MACCALLUM: Your response to that, Leader Jeffries?
LEADER JEFFRIES: Yeah, it appears that members of the Trump administration don’t think that the First Amendment applies, the freedom of assembly, the freedom to petition your government to change policies that you don’t believe are in the best interest of the American people. They apparently don’t believe that the Second Amendment applies, as has been demonstrated forcefully by the NRA. Clearly, they don’t believe that the Fourth Amendment applies, the prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures. The Trump administration has said that the Fourth Amendment doesn’t apply to behavior that DHS conducts itself. All I’m saying is that the Department of Homeland Security should be reined in in a manner consistent with American values.