Rep. Dan Goldman Introduces Amendment to GOP Budget Barring ICE From Obstructing Congressional Oversight of Immigration Facilities

 

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) introduced an amendment to the Republican reconciliation bill forbidding any of its funds from being used to prevent or impede Members of Congress from conducting their statutorily authorized oversight of immigration enforcement and detention facilities.  

 

“Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill for Billionaires doesn’t just slash health care and food assistance programs by over a trillion dollars, it increases funding by tens of billions of dollars to expand and accelerate this administration’s authoritarian crackdown on law-abiding, non-violent immigrants”, Congressman Dan Goldman said. “It is Congress’ responsibility to ensure this money is used appropriately, and that requires us to do our constitutional and statutory oversight. This administration is not above the law, and I urge my colleagues to adopt this amendment reaffirming Congress’ constitutional authority as an independent and co-equal branch of government.”  

 

Goldman's amendment would ensure that none of the funding in the GOP’s reconciliation bill could be used to prevent congressional oversight of any location or facility related to civil enforcement of immigration law. The prohibition would include temporarily modifying locations before congressional visits or requiring members of Congress to provide prior notice before being allowed into the facility, as the administration has recently demanded in direct violation of Section 527(a) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. 

 

Congressman Goldman has made combating the Trump administration’s lawless immigration enforcement tactics a top priority since the start of Donald Trump’s second term. 

 

Last week, Goldman and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat introduced the ‘No Secret Police Act,’ which would require law enforcement officers and agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) engaged in border security and civil immigration enforcement to clearly display identification and insignia when detaining or arresting individuals and to ban them from using home-made, non-tactical masks.    

 

Last month, Goldman led 8 of his New York City House Democratic colleagues in sending an oversight letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons demanding ICE comply with Section 527(a) of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 and stop denying members of Congress access to facilities that ICE is using to house immigrants. 

 

Days before, Goldman and Congressman Nadler hosted a press conference after observing court proceedings at 26 Federal Plaza and being denied access to the federal building’s 10th floor, where immigrants are being detained for days and sleeping on the floor and benches in inhumane conditions.