After a 76‑day shutdown, Congress passed a bipartisan bill to reopen most of the Department of Homeland Security and the President signed it into law. But funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol is still unresolved — and Congress will take it up when they return on May 11 as part of the upcoming reconciliation bill and in ongoing FY27 appropriations negotiations.

This next phase is where the most consequential decisions will be made. The reconciliation bill will determine how immigration enforcement is funded through 2028, and it can pass with a simple majority vote in both the House and Senate. That means your voice is essential right now.

Why this matters: Communities across the country have raised concerns about immigration enforcement practices — including the treatment of people in detention, enforcement in sensitive locations like churches and schools, and the recent policy requiring the arrest and detention of lawfully admitted refugees for re‑interviews. As Congress negotiates the next DHS package(s), we are urging lawmakers to prioritize compassion, dignity, due process, and community safety.

We’re asking Congress to:

• Avoid excessive enforcement funding without adequate guardrails and oversight mechanisms. Immigration enforcement received more than $170 billion last year, leading to expanded detention, poor conditions in privately run facilities, and harmful enforcement actions in communities. Demand changes!
• Protect sensitive locations. Codify restrictions on enforcement in houses of worship, schools, hospitals, and courthouses.
• Prevent discriminatory targeting. Reinforce limits on enforcement based on race, language, or national origin.
• Require due process and accountability. Ensure independent investigations and consequences when federal agents violate procedures.
• Improve detention standards for all those detained and stop detaining children. Guarantee access to medical care, clean water, nutrition, food, religious practice, and legal counsel — and prohibit the detention of children.
• End plans for the arrest and detention of lawfully present refugees. Recent policy changes have led to the risks of unnecessary arrests, family separation, and re‑traumatization.

Immigrants and refugees deserve to attend school and worship without fear, to work and support their families, and to contribute to their communities safely.

Now is the moment to act. Use your voice to urge your Members of Congress to protect the rights and dignity of immigrants and refugees in all upcoming DHS funding negotiations, including FY27 appropriations and reconciliation.

Send a letter to your representatives today by filling out the form to the right!