Congresswoman Ramirez, Members of Congress, Advocates Rally Against Reconciliation Bill That Betrays Working Families, Funds ICE Abuses, Gifts Millions to Billionaires
As Republicans expand funding for DHS’s unlawful actions, Congresswoman Ramirez demands answers from Secretary Noem on ICE’s overspending and misuse of taxpayers' dollars
Washington, D.C. –Today, ahead of the House vote on the Republican One Big Ugly Bill, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03) rallied Members of Congress and advocates to oppose the GOP’s extreme reconciliation bill, the biggest transfer of wealth and betrayal of working families in recent American history. The bill represents devastating cuts to the programs and services working families rely on while expanding Trump and Noem’s resources for their mass detention, disappearance, and deportation agenda.
“It is important for people to know what is in this bill. Do you know who continues to be left out and betrayed? Working people. People of Color. Immigrants. Women. People with disabilities. The exact people who’ve had to fight and demand every freedom, every liberty this country has denied them. The Big Ugly Bill is just different packaging on the same old imperialist, segregationist policies our communities know so well,” said Congresswoman Ramirez. “And that is why I am here with a number of members of Congress who are ready to fight like HELL for you–not for billionaire bosses, not for Donald Trump, not for Secretary Noem.”
Ramirez was joined by Reps. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), CHC Chair Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Judy Chu (CA-28), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), Lou Correa (CA-46), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Hank Johnson (GA-04). They were also joined by Izzy Volpe from United We Dream, Senior Policy Analyst Wendy Cervantes from the Center for Law and Social Policy, and Human Rights First President Uzra Zeya.
Despite reports of Trump and Noem’s uncontrolled spending on an anti-migrant operation, the Republican legislation, if passed and signed into law, would infuse over $150 billion into the Department of Homeland Security. The budget would expand detention centers, militarize immigration enforcement, strip legal rights of immigrants– including children–, and further erode legal protections and pathways. At the same time, the bill cuts funding for health care and nutrition programs, and strips tax credits from children—including U.S. citizens—simply because their parents are immigrants.
As part of her effort, Congresswoman Ramirez led 51 members in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pattern of overspending. In May 2025, Secretary Kristi Noem admitted to spending far beyond appropriated levels. With the legislation providing more funding for mass detention, Members of Congress are demanding clarity on how the agency has been using its funding, who is receiving contracts, and how ICE is funding the contracts when it is exceeding its appropriated budget.
“This spending spree has been as inhumane as it has been costly to taxpayers, including approximately $259 million already awarded to enrich private prison corporations to jail families since the start of the Trump administration,” wrote the Members. “The Administration’s move to secure massive profits for its donors and corporate bosses through mass deportations and detention is an ineffective, wasteful, and negligent enterprise.”
“Given recent reports of troubling trends and worsening conditions in detention facilities, DHS and ICE must prioritize their responsibility to ensure U.S. taxpayer funds are not misused to contravene individual liberty, fairness, and equality guaranteed under U.S. law or to benefit entities that facilitate such acts,” the Member added.
The letter was signed by LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Robert J. Menendez (NJ-08), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (IL-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Danny K. Davis (IL-07, Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Paul D. Tonko (NY-20), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-2), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), André Carson (IN-07), Janelle S. Bynum (OR-05), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02), Lou Correa (CA-46), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Darren Soto (FL-09), Greg Casar (TX-35), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dina Titus (NV-01), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Adam Smith (WA-09), Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Summer L. Lee (PA-12).
Click here for the full text of the letter.
Click here for a recording of the press conference.
Click here for photos of the press conference.
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