Serving Our Community Despite the Government Shutdown

Dear Neighbors,

For weeks, I’ve been working with colleagues from both parties to end the reckless government shutdown. Unfortunately, Republicans—who control the White House and both chambers of Congress—continue to block efforts to restore critical Affordable Care Act subsidies and keep health care affordable for working families. Their refusal to act has left millions facing suspended federal services and uncertainty about vital programs like SNAP.

Last week, two federal judges ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has the legal authority—and obligation—to use SNAP’s contingency fund to issue November benefits. While the rulings are a major victory for working families, the Administration’s illegal decision to withhold funding has already caused delays, and it could take one to two weeks for benefits to reach recipients even under the best-case scenario. I’m continuing to press the Administration to comply with the court orders and get aid out the door immediately so families can keep food on the table during this crisis. I’ll keep working to end the shutdown, protect affordable health care, and make sure government works for the people it serves.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, please contact my office by calling (847) 413-1959, emailing me at [email protected], or sending a message through my website at https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/contact/email. For more frequent updates, I encourage you to follow me on Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky.

Serving Our Community Even as the Government Shutdown Continues

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi joins local leaders and constituents at the Itasca Fire Department to highlight how our office continues delivering for Illinois families even during the federal shutdown. (Click the image above for the full video of the event.)

Last Tuesday, I joined local leaders and constituents at the Itasca Fire Department to highlight how our office continues serving Illinois families—even as Washington remains mired in a shutdown.

Public service, at its core, is about helping people. That’s what my team has continued to do every single day, regardless of the noise in D.C. Whether it’s helping a veteran bring his former interpreter to safety, assisting a family to reunite across continents, resolving months-long passport or Social Security delays, or ensuring a small business owner can stay on the road and keep his livelihood—our work is about making government function where it matters most: in people’s lives.

To date, we’ve closed more than 14,000 constituent cases, assisted over 20,000 Illinoisans, and recovered more than $70 million on their behalf—including 115 new cases resolved since the shutdown began. Each of those numbers represents a story of someone who reached out for help and found a government that still answers the phone.

At the Itasca Fire Department, we also celebrated a major local investment—$2.5 million in federal funding to build a new fire station that will open this December, improving emergency response times and ensuring our first responders have the facilities they need to keep families safe. During the event, the department presented me with a proclamation recognizing our work together to secure this funding. I was deeply honored to receive it—not for myself, but as a reflection of what can be achieved when we listen, collaborate, and deliver for our communities.

Even as much of Washington remains paralyzed, my team continues its work with humility and purpose—one family, one veteran, one case at a time. If you or your loved ones need assistance with a federal agency, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to serve.

Confronting ICE and DHS Abuses in Chicago

Congressman Krishnamoorthi questions witnesses during the field hearing on ICE and DHS activity in Chicago. (Click the image above to watch the full question line.)

In late October, the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee held a field hearing in Chicago to expose how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have violated the rights of residents and fostered a climate of fear across our communities. During the hearing, I called out the Trump Administration’s unlawful immigration tactics and made clear that no agency is above the law.

I questioned witnesses about several disturbing incidents, including Evelyn, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen from Hoffman Estates who was tackled by ICE agents while recording their actions, and Reverend David Black, a Chicago pastor struck in the head with a pepper ball while peacefully protesting outside the Broadview detention facility. These abuses are part of a broader pattern of misconduct that undermines public trust and endangers the people these agencies are supposed to protect.

I also raised reports of inhumane conditions at Broadview, which has refused me entry despite my legal right as a Member of Congress to conduct oversight. Witnesses described overcrowded cells with detainees forced to sleep standing up—treatment that is both unlawful and morally indefensible.

During the hearing, I also spoke about the alarming rise in overt racism targeting communities of color—and how it is fueled by the Trump Administration’s rhetoric and ICE’s pattern of profiling. I cited one shocking example: a Florida official who called for the mass deportation of Indian Americans and mocked my heritage, writing, “I would like to report a foreign occupier. Name unpronounceable. Country of origin: Tatooine.” That kind of hate doesn’t appear out of nowhere—it grows when those in power use fear and division as tools of governance.

As I told Joy Reid in an interview on Wednesday, this hate is emboldened when federal agencies discriminate against people who look a certain way or speak a certain language. In the hearing, I reminded my colleagues that while I can confront these attacks publicly, most victims of such racism are not in the spotlight—they’re ordinary Americans of color who deserve dignity, safety, and equal protection under the law. Whether in a congressional hearing room or anywhere else, I’ll continue using every oversight tool available to hold ICE, DHS, and the Trump Administration accountable and to ensure our government reflects the values of fairness, transparency, and respect for every person.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi spoke with Joy Reid about the racist comments of a Florida official who attacked him as a “foreign occupier” and called for mass deportations (Click the image above to watch.)

Stay Updated Through My Social Media Accounts

The best way to stay up to date on these issues beyond our newsletter is through my social media accounts, which I update multiple times each day. You can follow my Twitter (X) here, my Facebook page here, my Instagram here, my Threads here, and my Bluesky here. Thank you for staying engaged in our community.

Warm Regards,