Casten to Vote Against DHS Funding Bill That Fails to Rein in ICE
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) will vote against appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2026 and released the following statement:
“The Department of Homeland Security funding bill set to be considered by the House does not meaningfully end the lawless conduct from ICE that we have seen in Illinois and throughout the country. Congress, having the power of the purse, had an opportunity to respond to the murder and baseless arrests of American citizens, the cruel and inhumane conditions detainees are subjected to, and the denial of due process to both citizens and non-citizens. This bill not only fails to impose real accountability, but it also asks Congress to keep funding ICE’s illegal actions, including entering homes without judicial warrants. It reflects a failure of Congress’s constitutional duty to act as a check on an out-of-control Executive Branch that is operating without accountability.
“To be clear, Democratic appropriators demanded the inclusion of provisions to rein in ICE, but Republicans chose to move forward with a bill without enforceable limits, oversight, or consequences, despite the chaos these operations have inflicted on communities. The Department of Homeland Security should be focused on securing our borders and keeping our communities safe. As we have seen in the last year, when ICE descends on a community, brutality and violence erupt.
“The American people deserve better than the current leadership at the Department of Homeland Security. I cannot in good conscience vote to fund their continued failures.”