House Republicans rejected a Democratic amendment Wednesday that would have barred Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using federal funds to detain or deport American citizens—a move that follows President Trump’s recent suggestion of deporting violent U.S. criminals to El Salvador.
The Amendment: Proposed by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), it sought to explicitly prevent ICE from targeting citizens. GOP lawmakers voted it down during a Judiciary Committee hearing on Trump’s sweeping budget bill
Controversial Remarks: Trump floated the idea in April of sending U.S.-born criminals to foreign prisons, admitting he was unsure of its legality. The White House called it merely an “idea.”
Legal Concerns: A federal judge recently warned that deporting citizens without due process is unconstitutional, citing a case involving a 2-year-old American child sent to Honduras with her mother.
Polls show 53% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s immigration policies, though the administration denies unlawfully deporting citizens. Democrats argue ICE is overreaching, while Republicans defend funding for border security. The budget bill, which includes immigration enforcement funding, is expected to pass Congress. Legal challenges loom if ICE’s actions conflict with Supreme Court rulings on due process.
Comments