Featured Issue: FY26 Reconciliation Provides Billions in DHS Funding Without Accountability Measures
On June 9, 2026, the Republican-controlled Congress passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill, giving even more funding to ICE and Border Patrol without imposing any guardrails to check the dangerous and unlawful abuses they are committing. AILA opposed this bill for its failure to reform these agencies while handing them a blank check. Congress must reform ICE and CBP and hold them accountable.
Americans want safety and order—not unchecked violence and lawlessness.
The Administration’s mass deportation agenda has not delivered on its promises to Americans. Far from detaining and deporting the “worst of the worst,” the vast majority of people in ICE detention have never been convicted of a crime. Poll after poll shows Americans want to restore public safety to their communities by reining in these out-of-control agencies. Since 2025, ICE and Border Patrol have killed 28 people, including four U.S. citizens, and more than 50 people have died in ICE custody. ICE’s mandatory detention policy has led federal courts to rule that ICE is holding people illegally in over 4,400 cases. ICE has also wrongfully detained more than 170 U.S. citizens. Mass detention is separating families, damaging our economy, and hurting our communities.
ICE and Border Patrol do not need this money.
In less than two years, Congress has appropriated over $240 billion to DHS—far more than what state and local governments spend on police in all 50 states plus DC in a year. Americans expect Congress to impose fiscal responsibility, not waste money where it’s not needed.
Mass deportations are exacerbating the affordability crisis
Congress passed this bill while ignoring the mounting economic damage of the deportation agenda, including rising food prices and vanishing jobs for American workers. Instead of creating more opportunities for U.S.-born workers, raids and deportations are causing them to lose jobs. Food prices have increased 3.2% in the past year, in part because there are fewer workers available in the agriculture and food processing sectors.
America needs a Better Way on Immigration
Americans deserve a better immigration system. Congress must restore public trust by creating an independent oversight body and enacting enforceable guardrails on DHS. That means codifying safe and humane enforcement standards, including requiring warrants for ICE arrests; prohibiting most enforcement at schools, hospitals, and places of worship; and imposing real consequences when officers violate the law. For a full set of solutions, read AILA’s proposals A Better Way on Immigration.
Browse the Featured Issue: FY26 Reconciliation Provides Billions in DHS Funding Without Accountability Measures collection
Take Action: Tell Congress to Vote NO on the FY2026 Budget Reconciliation Bill - Reject Billions for Unchecked ICE and Border Patrol Enforcement
With the House expected to vote on the FY26 budget reconciliation bill as soon as 6/9/26, AILA urges Congress to reject any bill that expands ICE and Border Patrol funding without meaningful accountability, oversight, and reforms. Use AILA’s advocacy tool to contact your member of Congress.
AILA Sends Letter to Leader Thune, Leader Schumer, Speaker Johnson, and Leader Jeffries on Funding for ICE and CBP
AILA President Jeff Joseph and Executive Director Ben Johnson sent a letter to Leader Thune, Leader Schumer, Speaker Johnson, and Leader Jeffries to block funding to ICE and CBP until meaningful reforms are enacted to hold these agencies accountable and restore safety to American communities.
Vote Recommendation to Congress: Block Continued Funding for ICE and CBP and Restore Safety to American Communities
AILA sent an updated vote recommendation to Congress on 3/2/26 urging it to block any continued funding to ICE and CBP until an agreement is reached on enforceable reforms to stop their unlawful and dangerous practices and restore safety to American communities.
Practice Alert: What Happens If the Government Shuts Down?
AILA National shares information on how federal agencies may be affected as a result of the potential partial government shutdown. This page will continue to be updated as more information is received.
Vote Recommendation to Congress: Block Any Continued Funding for ICE and CBP and Restore Safety to American Communities
AILA sent a vote recommendation to Congress on 2/12/26 urging it to block any continued funding to ICE and CBP until enforceable reforms are put in place and safety is restored to American communities.
Call to Action: Tell Congress to Vote NO on the FY2026 Budget Reconciliation Bill - Reject Billions for Unchecked ICE and Border Patrol Enforcement
With the House expected to vote on the FY26 budget reconciliation bill as soon as 6/9/26, AILA urges Congress to reject any bill that expands ICE and Border Patrol funding without meaningful accountability, oversight, and reforms. Use AILA’s advocacy tool to call your member of Congress.
Congressional Democratic Leadership Sends Letter to Republican Leadership with List of Guardrails to Increase Accountability and Protect Americans
Leader Jeffries and Leader Schumer send letter to Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune with a list of 10 reforms Congress should enact to increase accountability and protect Americans following more dangerous and violent enforcement actions across the country.
Vote Recommendation: AILA Urges Senate to Vote NO on FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
AILA sent a vote recommendation to the Senate on 1/26/26 urging a NO vote on the FY2026 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.
AILA Sends List of Demands to Congress Highlighting Measures to be Implemented before Voting for DHS Funding
AILA urges Congress to say NO to funding DHS until measures are implemented to check unlawful DHS policies that are leading to chaos, violence and death in American communities. AILA and coalition partners sent the following 10 demands for Congress to enact before it passes any funding for DHS.
AILA Joins Sign-On Letter Urging Members of Congress to Oppose Increased DHS Funding and Demand Accountability in FY2026 DHS Appropriations
AILA joined an organizational sign-on letter led by the ACLU and other organizations calling on Members of Congress to oppose any increased funding to ICE and CBP through FY2026 appropriations and to demand increased accountability and oversight measures.
Think Immigration: Congress Must Reject Funding for 44,500 Immigration Detention Beds
AILA Policy and Practice Counsel Heather Hogan urges readers to take action and tell Congress to reject increased funding for detention beds, explaining how this funding would mean “a dangerous expansion of a system that is already deadly, wasteful, and deeply flawed. We need to act now to stop it.”