Republicans Advance New 'Slush Fund' for ICE While Taking Food Aid From MillionsFor Maine Communities, Congress Must Fund Defenders, Not Detention and Deportation

Immigration And Immigration Policy News

Republicans Advance New 'Slush Fund' for ICE While Taking Food Aid From MillionsFor Maine Communities, Congress Must Fund Defenders, Not Detention and Deportation
CongressBudget PlansFood Aid

Despite widespread public opposition to the inhuman actions of the Trump administration's immigration agencies, Congress is moving forward with budget plans that would further harm the stability and well-being of Maine's families and immigrant communities. The plans would give $70 billion in additional funding for harmful immigration operations, with no strings attached. Over the last 15 months, DHS has used its billions to send federal agents into Maine and other communities to abduct people from courtrooms, workplaces, and homes, tearing them from their right to a fair day in court. This has led to unprecedented, ICE apprehensions in Maine increased 37% when comparing all of 2024 and the first 10.5 months of 2025. ICE predominantly targeted Black and brown individuals without any criminal charges.

Republicans Advance New ' Slush Fund ' for ICE While Taking Food Aid From MillionsFor Maine Communities , Congress Must Fund Defenders, Not Detention and Deportation Having experienced firsthand the terrors of the Trump administration’s detention and deportation agenda, Maine has already paid the price of this cruelty.

We cannot afford one additional dollar of public investment in immigration operations.operations. Despite widespread public opposition to the inhuman actions of the Trump administration’s immigration agencies, Congress is moving forward with these budget plans that would further harm the stability and well-being of Maine’s families and immigrant communities.

As the budget reconciliation process continues, Sens.and Angus King and our representatives must reject these dangerous proposals and instead fund real solutions to protect families and our constitutional rights.would give $70 billion in additional funding for harmful immigration operations, with no strings attached. Having experienced firsthand the terrors of the Trump administration’s detention and deportation agenda,has already paid the price of this cruelty. We cannot afford one additional dollar of public investment in immigration operations.

Over the last 15 months, DHS has used its billions to send federal agents into Maine and other communities to abduct people from courtrooms, workplaces, and homes, tearing them from their right to a fair day in court. This has led to unprecedented, ICE apprehensions in Maine increased 37% when comparing all of 2024 and the first 10.5 months of 2025. ICE predominantly targeted Black and brown individuals without any criminal charges.

ICE relies on categorizing people as having “Pending Criminal Charges” or “Other. ” They targeted working-age men, disproportionately from African and Latin American countries, robbing families of their breadwinners. Instead of attacking families and their constitutional rights, our federal funds should be used to support families and uphold due process.launched an Immigrant Defense Hotline and Resource Hub in October 2025 as “Community Watch” to record ICE sightings and offer legal support.

Because there is no public defender system in immigration court, our services have been a critical last line of defense. But up against chaotic federal agencies with unlimited funding, this has not been enough. Instead of attacking families and their constitutional rights, our federal funds should be used to support families and uphold due process.

, consistently shows that people with a lawyer are far more likely to obtain the legal relief they are entitled to—allowing them to return to their jobs, communities, and families. When our rights and communities are threatened, we must fund defenders, not the detention and deportation machine. As a diverse network of over 100 organizations, my partners and I are committed to defending due process and holding the government accountable.

Just as we work every day to hold DHS accountable in the courtroom, Congress must do the same inand reject this unnecessary and harmful infusion of funding for immigration detention and operations. Congress should invest in less costly, more supportive services likeAs Maine’s congressional leaders move forward with their budget reconciliation proposals, we urge them to remember that the stability, rights, and well-being of our communities are in their hands.

We send you to Washington to invest in solutions that giveIt’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements.

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Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we.operations. Despite widespread public opposition to the inhuman actions of the Trump administration’s immigration agencies, Congress is moving forward with these budget plans that would further harm the stability and well-being of Maine’s families and immigrant communities.

As the budget reconciliation process continues, Sens.and Angus King and our representatives must reject these dangerous proposals and instead fund real solutions to protect families and our constitutional rights.would give $70 billion in additional funding for harmful immigration operations, with no strings attached. Having experienced firsthand the terrors of the Trump administration’s detention and deportation agenda,has already paid the price of this cruelty. We cannot afford one additional dollar of public investment in immigration operations.

Over the last 15 months, DHS has used its billions to send federal agents into Maine and other communities to abduct people from courtrooms, workplaces, and homes, tearing them from their right to a fair day in court. This has led to unprecedented, ICE apprehensions in Maine increased 37% when comparing all of 2024 and the first 10.5 months of 2025. ICE predominantly targeted Black and brown individuals without any criminal charges.

ICE relies on categorizing people as having “Pending Criminal Charges” or “Other. ” They targeted working-age men, disproportionately from African and Latin American countries, robbing families of their breadwinners. Instead of attacking families and their constitutional rights, our federal funds should be used to support families and uphold due process.launched an Immigrant Defense Hotline and Resource Hub in October 2025 as “Community Watch” to record ICE sightings and offer legal support.

Because there is no public defender system in immigration court, our services have been a critical last line of defense. But up against chaotic federal agencies with unlimited funding, this has not been enough. Instead of attacking families and their constitutional rights, our federal funds should be used to support families and uphold due process.

, consistently shows that people with a lawyer are far more likely to obtain the legal relief they are entitled to—allowing them to return to their jobs, communities, and families. When our rights and communities are threatened, we must fund defenders, not the detention and deportation machine. As a diverse network of over 100 organizations, my partners and I are committed to defending due process and holding the government accountable.

Just as we work every day to hold DHS accountable in the courtroom, Congress must do the same inand reject this unnecessary and harmful infusion of funding for immigration detention and operations. Congress should invest in less costly, more supportive services likeAs Maine’s congressional leaders move forward with their budget reconciliation proposals, we urge them to remember that the stability, rights, and well-being of our communities are in their hands.

We send you to Washington to invest in solutions that giveMinnesotans Fought Back Against ICE and CBP. Now it’s Congress’ Turn. ›'This Occupation Has to End!

' Omar Argues After Homan Says Most Agents Will Stay in Minnesota ›operations. Despite widespread public opposition to the inhuman actions of the Trump administration’s immigration agencies, Congress is moving forward with these budget plans that would further harm the stability and well-being of Maine’s families and immigrant communities.

As the budget reconciliation process continues, Sens.and Angus King and our representatives must reject these dangerous proposals and instead fund real solutions to protect families and our constitutional rights.would give $70 billion in additional funding for harmful immigration operations, with no strings attached. Having experienced firsthand the terrors of the Trump administration’s detention and deportation agenda,has already paid the price of this cruelty. We cannot afford one additional dollar of public investment in immigration operations.

Over the last 15 months, DHS has used its billions to send federal agents into Maine and other communities to abduct people from courtrooms, workplaces, and homes, tearing them from their right to a fair day in court. This has led to unprecedented, ICE apprehensions in Maine increased 37% when comparing all of 2024 and the first 10.5 months of 2025. ICE predominantly targeted Black and brown individuals without any criminal charges.

ICE relies on categorizing people as having “Pending Criminal Charges” or “Other. ” They targeted working-age men, disproportionately from African and Latin American countries, robbing families of their breadwinners. Instead of attacking families and their constitutional rights, our federal funds should be used to support families and uphold due process.launched an Immigrant Defense Hotline and Resource Hub in October 2025 as “Community Watch” to record ICE sightings and offer legal support.

Because there is no public defender system in immigration court, our services have been a critical last line of defense. But up against chaotic federal agencies with unlimited funding, this has not been enough. Instead of attacking families and their constitutional rights, our federal funds should be used to support families and uphold due process.

, consistently shows that people with a lawyer are far more likely to obtain the legal relief they are entitled to—allowing them to return to their jobs, communities, and families. When our rights and communities are threatened, we must fund defenders, not the detention and deportation machine. As a diverse network of over 100 organizations, my partners and I are committed to defending due process and holding the government accountable.

Just as we work every day to hold DHS accountable in the courtroom, Congress must do the same inand reject this unnecessary and harmful infusion of funding for immigration detention and operations. Congress should invest in less costly, more supportive services likeAs Maine’s congressional leaders move forward with their budget reconciliation proposals, we urge them to remember that the stability, rights, and well-being of our communities are in their hands.

We send you to Washington to invest in solutions that giveMinnesotans Fought Back Against ICE and CBP. Now it’s Congress’ Turn. ›'This Occupation Has to End!

' Omar Argues After Homan Says Most Agents Will Stay in Minnesota › The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%.

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Congress Budget Plans Food Aid ICE Slush Fund Maine Communities Apprehensions DHS Pending Criminal Charges Other Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Unconstitutional Rights Defense Hotline Resource Hub

 

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