Jayapal Introduces Legislation to End ICE Targeting of US Citizens

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, is introducing legislation to formally block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from detaining or deporting U.S. citizens. 

“ICE is acting like a rogue force, kidnapping and disappearing people off the streets with no due process,” said Jayapal. “When ICE is conducting immigration enforcement, arresting and detaining U.S. citizens is illegal — and deporting U.S. citizens is illegal, full stop. But since Trump took over, ICE has been consistently breaking these laws and going after U.S. citizens, including young children. Congress must act to make it abundantly clear, with absolutely no grey area, that ICE cannot do this and ensure that agents who do act outside of their authority are held accountable.”

Since Trump returned to office, multiple reports have surfaced of U.S. citizens being wrongfully arrested, detained, and deported. One citizen, a 19-year-old, was held by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for 10 days after he suffered a seizure and was taken to the hospital without his ID. He approached a Border Patrol agent asking for help, and instead was held for over a week under the false claim that he was a Mexican national. Two U.S. citizen children were also deported to Honduras after their mother was taken by ICE when she showed up for a regular check-in. Another family experienced the exact same situation when their two-year-old was deported with her mother, who was attending a regular check-in. And in the recent California ICE raids, a 25-year-old disabled veteran who is a US citizen was detained and held for three days without access to legal representation or any charges against him.

ICE has no authority to arrest, detain, or deport U.S. citizens. Their own internal guidance states, “As a matter of law, ICE cannot assert its civil immigration enforcement authority to arrest and/or detain a U.S. citizen.” U.S. citizens also cannot be deported under U.S. law. 

The Stop ICE from Kidnapping US Citizens Act is sponsored by Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-30), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

Issues: Civil Rights, Immigration