The Honorable Rand Paul, Chair
The Honorable Gary Peters, Ranking Member
U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Government Affairs
340 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chair Paul and Ranking Member Peters:
On behalf of the AFL-CIO, I am writing to express our strong opposition to the FY 2026 Budget Reconciliation bill scheduled for markup in committee this week.
Despite the chaos and violence ICE has caused in communities and workplaces around the country, this bill creates no guardrails whatsoever to constrain the lawless behavior of federal agents. Worse still, by forward funding the agency for three years, it removes any meaningful leverage Congress has to demand accountability from ICE for the duration of this administration. This bill would constitute an unacceptable failure by the legislative branch to defend the Constitution and check abuse of power by the executive branch, and working families will face ever deeper harm as a result.
Writing another blank check to fund the mass deportation agenda is not only inhumane, it is a recipe for economic disaster. At a time when families are already paying more for health care, groceries, gas, electricity and rent, this bill proposes to spend another $530 per household to fund an unaccountable immigration enforcement effort that harms working people. Lawmakers should be laser focused on advancing policies that help raise wages and drive down costs for working people; instead, this bill continues to misallocate vital taxpayer dollars to advance a partisan political agenda. In the process, it risks further disrupting key industries and destroying millions of jobs1.
The AFL-CIO has urged Congress to act with urgency to rein in2 abusive immigration enforcement practices that have put the lives, livelihoods, and rights of all members of our unions, workforce and communities at unacceptable risk. We renew our call to hold ICE accountable to the law, ensure due process for all, and prevent further harm to working families.
1https://www.epi.org/publication/trumps-deportation-agenda-will-destroy-millions-of-jobs-both-immigrants-and-u-s-born-workers-would-suffer-job-losses-particularly-in-construction-and-child-care/
2https://aflcio.org/about/advocacy/legislative-alerts/statement-calling-withdrawal-ice-minnesota-and-congressional
It is time to stop the chaos and invest in priorities that support rather than target workers. We urge you to vote NO on the FY 2026 Budget Reconciliation bill and any harmful anti-worker, anti-immigrant amendments that may be proposed as it moves to the floor.
Sincerely,
Jody Calemine
Director, Government Affairs