Congressman Bishop Opposes Homeland Security Funding Bill, Calls for Transparency, Accountability, & Protections for U.S. Citizens

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) opposed the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The Trump Administration claimed that its deportation policy would focus on violent felons who are in the United States illegally. However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has aggressively swept up American citizens and law-abiding immigrant families.

“Activities by ICE over the past few months on streets in communities across the country cry out for guardrails and accountability,” said Congressman Bishop. “Democrats have tried to negotiate in good faith with Republican leaders to include judicial warrant requirements, a prohibition on the detention and deportation of American citizens, the use of excessive force restriction, enhanced training, body camera mandate, and a mask ban. These are commonsense measures that would hold ICE to the same conduct we expect of every other law enforcement agency in the United States. Without them, I could not support this funding bill.”

“Though I support the mission and purpose of the Department of Homeland Security and ICE – which already received nearly $200 billion and $75 billion, respectively last summer – today’s bill lacked the protections we need to ensure the public’s trust and safety,” added Congressman Bishop.

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