Tell Congress to say NO to cuts to Medicaid to fund cruelty to kids! TAKE ACTION

Dear Friend,

Last week in Encinitas, California, a routine school drop-off turned into a nightmare. A father had just dropped off his daughter at school - when in full view of his family and stunned bystanders - masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents snatched him from his car without a word of explanation. [1] Terrified family members and concerned bystanders asked for identification or a warrant, but agents refused to provide either. The distraught dad was given no reason for his sudden seizure, no documents to justify it, and was denied even the opportunity to embrace his family before being ripped away from them. [2]

Tell Congress: This is NOT okay. Human rights abuses in the name of immigration enforcement hurt our families, economy, and communities. 

Our nation is facing a crisis: Trump and Republicans in Congress made extreme cuts to Medicaid to pay for separating families, human rights abuses, and terrifying hardworking immigrants - people essential to our care workforce, our economy, our communities, our families, and our future.

Our nation needs a safe and orderly immigration process that balances compassion and security, NOT cuts to healthcare and NOT cruelty.

Join us in urging Congress to stop the cuts to our healthcare, education, and nutrition; and to end human rights abuses in the name of immigrant families.

Unfortunately, this story of a dad ripped away from his children as a traumatized school community watched is not unique -  family separation 2.0 is here today and it’s traumatic not only for immigrants who are the targets of these disappearances, but also for every child and family member witnessing these terrifying acts. [3] This same scene is repeating across the country as school is beginning with children terrified their parents could be dropping them off for the last time. [4]

Tell Congress to stop the cuts to our healthcare, education and nutrition, to end ICE’s cruelty toward immigrants, and to stop the military takeover of cities like Washington, D.C.

What is happening? As families across the country are struggling to pay bills, Trump and Republicans in Congress are slashing Medicaid and other important services to pay for separating families, for expanding privatized megaprisons, and for human rights abuses against immigrants. For instance, in July, Republicans in Congress passed the so-called “Big Beautiful” bill that cut healthcare, nutrition, and education programs; while tripling the budget for sweeping militarization, giving ICE a blank check to terrorize communities. [5]

It doesn’t have to be this way.  Now, Congress can take action through the FY 26 annual funding process to rein in funding for ICE - and prevent the agency from terrorizing families while allocating much needed resources towards healthcare, education, and nutrition programs that truly keep children safe, families healthy, and communities and our economy strong. We’ll say it again: Our nation needs a safe and orderly immigration process that balances compassion and security, NOT cuts to healthcare and NOT cruelty.

Sign Now: Congress must fund healthcare, education, and disaster relief programs and clawback unrestrained funding that opens the doors to even more human rights abuses through ICE. Our elected officials must invest in health, education, nutrition, and disaster relief programs that boost families and our economy across the country, as well as  fund programs that prioritize humane immigration processing.

The time is now to raise your voice.  After allocating an additional $170 billion for even more traumatizing militarized enforcement, [6] Trump and Congressional Republicans are now trying to advance FY26 spending bills that provide additional funding for ICE and Border Patrol. 

For example, the FY26 Homeland Security funding bill proposed in the House of Representatives would divert funds intended to protect our families during emergencies and disasters and funnel it to ICE, allowing the agency to supercharge family separations, surveillance, and the mass tracking of parents and children. This is not ok! [7] 

Additionally, the proposed Homeland Security funding bill and other proposed bills in the House include policy changes that would further erode Congressional oversight powers, weakening the very checks and balances meant to hold government agencies accountable. No administration should have unchecked authority to weaponize federal funds against our communities!

Join us in telling Congress to restore funding for healthcare, education, and disaster relief programs that our families need - and rein in programs that fuel family separation and human rights abuses against immigrants!

This situation is urgent. Congress must add strict accountability measures to restrict ICE funding and prevent the growing human rights abuses, prioritizing health and safety, as well as reasonable solutions to immigration processing needs instead. We have seen the countless painful videos of children, parents, workers, and long-time residents being swept up by masked men, terrifying our entire communities. 

Republicans in Congress are proposing to expand ICE’s budget while cutting  health, education, and nutrition for our families.  Not on our dime!  Our families want a strong economy and care infrastructure that gives hardworking families the tools and opportunities we need to build a good life. We also want immigration policies that recognize the hard work and contributions of immigrants, who are critical to the care workforce and our communities, with work authorization and paths to citizenship.   

Take quick action to tell your Members of Congress to reject further ICE funding and to restore congressional oversight of ICE and other agencies.

Sincerely,

Linda, Donna, Xochitl, Kristin, and the whole MomsRising.org & MamásConPoder Team

References: 

1. ICE arrest outside Encinitas elementary school sparks new round of public outcry
2. Parent detained by immigration enforcement near Encinitas elementary school
3. Family separation 2.0 compounds the trauma on children of immigrants
4. Parents navigate back to school amid fears of ICE and federal crackdowns in Washington
5. Explainer: How Congress codified hateful and extreme anti-immigrant policies by passing Trump’s budget bill
6. FY2026 House Homeland Security Appropriations Bill Analysis
7. Statement for the Record U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary

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