By VDC staff
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday accused U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal immigration agencies of operating outside the law and called on Congress to block additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
In a statement released by his Burlington office, Sanders said ICE is “out of control, ignoring the law and our Constitution,” and urged lawmakers to vote against any new appropriations for DHS.
Sanders outlined a series of actions he says Congress and the administration must take to curb abuses by federal immigration authorities:
– Block any additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security
Remove ICE, CBP and other federal immigration forces from Minnesota and Maine
– End warrantless arrests and prohibit stops based on race or language
End qualified immunity for ICE and CBP agents
– Require ICE and CBP agents to be unmasked and clearly identified
End detention and deportation of U.S. citizens
– Investigate and prosecute DHS officers who break the law, and require DOJ and DHS cooperation with state and local investigations
– Repeal billions in funding for ICE and CBP and redirect the money to health care
– Impose strict national standards on detention centers and hold them accountable for human rights abuses
The statement comes amid continued national debate over immigration enforcement, the scope of federal authority, and conditions inside detention facilities, issues that have intensified during the current election cycle and in the wake of expanded enforcement actions in several states.