Make Your Calls

The Senate votes this week on funding for Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP)—just as a deadly federal crackdown in Minneapolis has left two U.S. citizens dead. Currend funding authority ends on January 30.

Although Republicans hold majorities in the House and Senate, funding bills must receive 60 votes in the Senate to proceed. So Democrats have real leverage to demand significant limits on ICE and CBP activity. On Tuesday, Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said that Democrats are working on a package of serious reforms. According to the New Republic, the reforms under consideration include the following:

• Requiring DHS to cooperate with state investigations 
• Requiring CBP to operate only in border areas
• Requiring judicial warrants for all arrests by ICE or CBP
• Requiring agents to wear bodycams and to show identification
• Restricting ICE activity in churches and schools

It’s an encouraging development. Unfortunately, we saw Senate Democrats relinquish their leverage on funding twice over the past year. We can't let it happen again. 

Let’s urge our senators to make sure that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer puts pressure on wavering Democrats to hold the line, even if it means another government shutdown. 

And let’s urge our representative to vote “no” on any DHS funding package that comes back to the House without a full slate of meaningful reforms. We also need our representative to pressure House leaders to ensure that members who folded last time around stand firm on demanding serious guardrails for ICE and CBP.

Alex Padilla | 202-224-3553 (D.C.) or 415-981-9369 (local)

Adam Schiff | 202-224-3841 (D.C.) or 415-393-0707 (local)

Hi, I'm a constituent from [your zip code]. My name is [your full name].

The killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, along with other ICE abuses, have outraged the nation. Now, with the January 30 funding deadline looming, is the time to insist on meaningful reforms to ICE and other out-of-control agencies, including Border Patrol.

No more blank checks for ICE or Border Patrol. I urge Senator [Padilla or Schiff] to reject any DHS spending bill that lacks serious restraints on those agencies. I also expect him to push party leaders to insist on ending the federal assault on Minneapolis. They must make sure that wavering Democrats stand up for the rule of law and for an end to the invasion of American cities, even at the price of another government shutdown.

Thank you for your time and attention.

For most of us, that’s Sam Liccardo. If you are not sure who your U.S. representative is, go here.

Sam Liccardo | 202-225-8104 (DC) or 408-245-2339 (local)

Hi, I'm a constituent from [your zip code]. My name is [your full name].

The killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, along with other ICE abuses, have outraged the nation. Now, with the January 30 funding deadline looming, is the time to insist on meaningful reforms to ICE and other out-of-control agencies, including Border Patrol.

No more blank checks for ICE.  If the ICE funding package comes back to the House, I urge [Representative name] to reject any spending bill that lacks restraints on those agencies. I also expect him to push party leaders to insist on ending the federal assault on Minneapolis. They must make sure that wavering Democrats stand up for the rule of law and for an end to the invasion of American cities, even at the price of another government shutdown.

Thank you for your time and attention.

January 7, 2026 | Attack on Venezuela

January 14, 2026 | Call for Renee Good murder investigation

January 21, 2026 | DHS funding and ICE reforms