PRESS RELEASE
McMorrow Releases Statement on DHS Funding Vote
MICHIGAN — Today, Michigan Senate Majority Whip and candidate for U.S. Senate Mallory McMorrow released the following statement on the U.S. House’s vote today on funding for the Department of Homeland Security:
“For a year, we’ve watched this administration unleash unidentified, unchecked federal agents to terrorize American cities, detain American citizens, and go after preschool teachers, children, gardeners and grandmothers more often than violent criminals.
“This is no one’s vision for our country but Donald Trump’s. No one voted for their taxpayer dollars to go to harassing, detaining without due process, shooting, and killing of American citizens in the street. No one should live in fear that their own government will flood their communities with masked agents - many with very little vetting or training - if they protest its abuses, now even threatening to forcibly enter homes without a warrant.
“We all want safe communities. Democrats have the opportunity right now to leverage the budget vote to oppose giving more money to an agency out of control, abusing its funding and breaking the law. They should instead use the leverage of the negotiation to demand an immediate and sweeping overhaul that brings DHS back in line with its mission to enforce our immigration laws and keep Americans safe.
“Those changes must include:
Clear identification. ICE agents should not hide their names and faces. Just like our local law enforcement, ICE must wear official uniforms with clear identification and take the masks off.
Prioritize pursuing dangerous criminals.
Stop warrantless home entry. Trump’s ICE has told its new hires they can forcibly enter people’s homes without a warrant signed by a judge. That’s dangerous and unconstitutional.
Thoroughly vet recruits and provide rigorous training.
Enforce strict use-of-force policies and ensure accountability if those policies are violated.
Stop detaining American citizens.
“Continuing to provide funding to this agency without a complete overhaul to return it to its duty will be a failure to meet the moment. The leverage is there. And Democrats should force Republicans to the table to demand that Congress use its power of the purse to end this nightmare and restore the community safety that Americans are demanding.”
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