CONTACT: media@hispanicfederation.org
Funding deal was moved through the reconciliation process as a means of avoiding public scrutiny and comes after federal agencies previously received $170 billion through H.R. 1
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congress passed legislation providing over $70 billion to fund federal immigration enforcement agencies for the next three years, using a legislative tool that only requires votes from the Congressional majority. Below is a statement from Frankie Miranda, President and CEO, about the bill’s passage.
“This legislation will accelerate the devastation on American communities allowing unfettered federal enforcement operations to continue. Americans have been vocal about the negative impact of this federal overreach – hollowing out our businesses, traumatizing children, and tearing families apart.
This year Hispanic Federation hosted several People’s Hearings across the country to document the atrocities that took place due to unrestrained federal operations funded by Congress. Through the hearings, community members shared stories of hundreds of students missing school due to fear of deportation, businesses permanently shut down because of lost revenue, and families permanently scarred by the detention and deportation of loved ones. These federal actions are an affront to our freedom and democracy and failure to enact oversight and accountability over these agencies will leave American families vulnerable to the violent whims of untrained federal agents. Unfortunately, the legislation that Congress passed provides additional funding to continue inhumane systems of torture, separating families, maintaining deplorable detention conditions, and violating human rights.
Hispanic Federation has been adamant in our call for commonsense guardrails on federal enforcement operations, including guarantees of due process, reforms to agent use of force, standard uniform and identification protocols, and oversight by both Congress and the public. Last week, Hispanic Federation met with over 100 Congressional offices to advocate for the implementation of these very safeguards. Congresses approval of this legislation funds ICE and CBP operations without any oversight or accountability – it is a blank check for federal agencies to run amok on American communities across the country.
As millions of families are feeling the effects of the rising cost of living – with gas, food, utility bills rising at incredible rates – the Congressional majority has decided their number one budget priority is funding a machine to continue terrorizing American communities.
Hispanic Federation will not give up on families in need, nor will we give up on the fight for oversight and accountability of federal enforcement agencies. We urge all lawmakers to take action to impose urgent guardrails on the rogue agencies devastating American communities.”
About the People’s Hearing
The People’s Hearings took place in in St. Paul, Chicago, and Los Angeles and in each location impacted community members testified to abhorrent treatment at the hands of federal agents. So far, their testimony has already informed a report that was developed on the federal crackdown in Minnesota, and an additional chapter will come out soon regarding the atrocities in Chicago and Los Angeles. The hearings are moderated by United States Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) Rochelle Garza, facilitated by Hispanic Federation and are supported by Latino Victory, the Texas Civil Rights Project, and the Miranda Family.
About Hispanic Federation
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized, and immigrant Latine. With programs in 43 states and territories, HF’s focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
