While most Americans were sleeping, Republicans rammed through another $70 billion funding increase for ICE, lasting for the remainder of Trump’s second term and increasing the federal deficit in the process. The vote dragged from Wednesday night into the early morning hours on Thursday, with only two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Rand Paul (Kentucky) joining Democrats in voting no.
On this episode of The Siren Podcast, Jo sits down with New Jersey Senator Andy Kim to discuss the dangers and destructiveness of this latest funding bill. As Senator Kim told us: “ICE has become basically an equivalent of a military operation, right? It’s funded higher than most countries fund their militaries.”
We’ve already seen ICE’s massive budget used to terrorize Americans on the streets of their cities, resulting in the executions of two U.S. citizens and illegal detainment of countless people. Detainees have reported rampant, unsafe health conditions within ICE detention centers, with access to medical treatment often being denied by agents. Children are routinely blocked from visiting with their families, and relatives are completely left in the dark when a loved one is kidnapped by ICE, unable to be located.
Upwards of 3,000-4,000 ICE and DHS agents were sent to Minnesota earlier this year, more than double the amount of local law enforcement, who were severely understaffed in providing support and safety to the area due to ICE’s presence.
In addition, Senator Kim told us about ICE’s $130-140 million purchase of a warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey, to store massive new amounts of ICE detainees. The warehouse, according to ICE’s own estimates, will cost taxpayers another $150 million to rehabilitate the facility, and an additional $200-300 million to operate the building.
Republicans passed this massive funding increase for ICE in the middle of the night for a reason, because they don’t want Americans to hear about it. Senator Kim is shining a light on their latest disastrous action, and we’re lucky to have him.
All this and more, right here on The Siren Network.
