Yesterday, Nebraska’s delegation and Congress took the unprecedented step of passing a toxic and irresponsible budget reconciliation bill providing an additional $70 billion of deficit spending for ICE violence and mass detention of neighbors. This action bypassed strong public opposition and the normal budget process to supply ICE with more funding – on top of the already unprecedented $170 billion allocated just last year – to continue shocking violence against people, destabilized communities, and harm to working moms, dads, and neighbors.
People have made their voice clear opposing further funding for a ballooning force of federal agents contrary to our national values and safety. Further, as Nebraska workforce strain intensifies – with impacts felt across agriculture, food production, health care, education, and everyday systems and services – federal policies incomprehensibly continue targeting longtime working community members and separating families Nebraskans instead support positive, responsible, and productive solutions to fix long-outdated immigration laws and create stability and a thriving future for Nebraska’s families, economy, and communities.