Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Introduces Legislation to Redirect ICE and CBP Funding to States Targeted by Immigration Surges
WASHINGTON – Following the conclusion of “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) introduced the Make ICE Pay Act to redirect the $140 billion allocated to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) through the “One, Big Beautiful Bill” Act (HR-1) and invest it into communities across the country that have been impacted by the Department of Homeland Security’s heinous operations.
"For over a year, ICE has been tearing through our nation, leading racist terror campaigns that have caused devastating damage to our cities, to our businesses, and to the lives of our constituents," said Rep. Omar. "In Minneapolis, Operation Metro Surge cost our community nearly $700 million. We have a moral responsibility to end this abuse of power. Our bill will force ICE to pay the price for the damage they’ve left in their wake and ensure that these devastating operations can never be repeated."
“The psychological and financial impacts of Operation Metro Surge will be generational,” said Rep. Craig. “As Minnesotans begin the long process of healing from the wounds that President Trump’s ICE inflicted, it’s important that we commit to holding this lawless and misguided administration accountable. There is much more work to be done, but this bill is a critical step toward making our communities whole.”
The Make ICE Pay Act would redirect nearly $140 billion towards local recovery efforts in states affected by ICE and CBP surges and named operations; including California, Minnesota (Operation Metro Surge), Illinois (Operation Midway Blitz), Louisiana (Operations Swamp Sweet and Catahoula Crunch), Maine (Operation Catch of the Day), North Carolina (Operation Charlotte’s Web), and Oregon (Operation Black Rose).
The funding can be used by states, localities, non-profits and small businesses to provide economic relief, reimburse operational costs, support educational institutions, or deliver psychosocial support to the impacted. It may also be used for investigations, commissions of inquiry, truth telling, record-keeping, and memorialization to make sure that this devastation is accurately recorded, remembered, and can never be repeated.
The legislation is cosponsored by Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN).
The full text of the bill is available here.
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