February 7, 2026
Dear Friends,
Since the beginning of this administration, Donald Trump’s private army of masked ICE agents has carried out a brutal campaign of terror, intimidation, and death against our friends, families, and neighbors. In communities across the nation, Trump’s secret police are circling schools, courthouses, and places of worship in unmarked cars, snatching people off the street, and tearing parents away from their children.
In recent months, we’ve seen ICE’s horrors on full display during what can only be described as an invasion of Minneapolis — where agents are breaking into the homes of immigrants with no criminal record while menacing, beating, and even killing peaceful observers like Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti. Through these actions and more, this lawless agency has lost all credibility and public trust — which is why last week, I called for the permanent abolition of ICE.
While much of the public outrage against ICE has understandably focused on Minneapolis, our Capital Region has not been spared from this brutal crackdown. Just last month, a family of five, including an 8-month-old who is reportedly a U.S. citizen, was detained and deported after ICE illegally entered their Clifton Park apartment without a judicial warrant. And in December, our local Afghan community — many of whom fled the Taliban just a few years ago — was repeatedly targeted by masked agents who arrested a father and son outside their mosque after morning prayer. With these acts of unbridled cruelty in mind, I spent this week taking the fight directly to ICE.
Earlier this week, I stood with my Democratic colleagues outside ICE headquarters in Washington to demand the firing of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and accountability for ICE agents’ deadly actions. Then, on Wednesday, I joined members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on the House floor to call attention to the dozens of people who have died in ICE’s custody since the start of this administration.
While the appalling killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have been the most visible examples of ICE’s brutality, Renee and Alex are not the only ones who have lost their lives to this crackdown — either due to neglect and lack of medical care or directly at the hands of ICE agents. Thirty-two people died in ICE detention in 2025, making it the deadliest year for immigration enforcement in two decades. And in just the first month of 2026, ICE has already reported six additional deaths, including the likely homicide of Geraldo Lunas Campos. These lonely, nightmarish deaths behind locked doors in remote detention camps may not have been captured on video, but they are no less horrifying — and they must not be forgotten.
I’m working tirelessly to abolish ICE and ensure that not one more taxpayer dollar bankrolls its campaign of paramilitary violence. And while I remain firmly committed to opposing any Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill that includes money for ICE, my Democratic colleagues and I are also fighting to enact strong guardrails to rein in this rogue agency as we continue toward the end goal of abolition. These include, among other measures:
- Ending indiscriminate arrests and requiring judicial warrants to enter private property
- Prohibiting agents from wearing masks and requiring them to display ID
- Instituting a binding use-of-force policy and requiring ICE to cooperate with local law enforcement investigations
- Banning enforcement operations near sensitive locations like schools, medical facilities, and places of worship
Let me be clear: none of these provisions are enough. All of these provisions together would not be enough. Many of them simply reiterate requirements to which ICE is already bound by existing law. But combined with sustained public pressure, these measures can help us hold ICE accountable until its reign of terror is ended for good.
This week, we saw two powerful reminders that public pressure still matters. On Sunday, five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father — arrested in Minneapolis on their way home from school — were released from incarceration in Texas after massive public outcry. And on Wednesday, after days of nationwide protests, Trump’s so-called “border czar” announced the withdrawal of 700 immigration agents from Minnesota. Our fight is very far from over, but these moments show that our voices can make a difference. Fortified by that small dose of hope, let us work together to build a brighter future where none of our neighbors live in fear of their government.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
My office and I are working to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates, announcements, and recommendations from governments and agencies. With that in mind, here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- As of Sunday, February 1st, thanks to Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill, new work requirements are now in effect for millions of SNAP beneficiaries.
- While I’ll continue fighting to ensure every American can put food on their table, I want to make certain you are aware of the following changes to SNAP eligibility:
- Under these new requirements, all able-bodied individuals aged 18-65 and without dependents must work or attend a work program for at least 80 hours per month to maintain their benefits. Previously, the top age for these requirements was 55.
- Previously, parents with dependent children under the age of 18 were exempt from work requirements. Now, parents with children aged 14 or older are no longer exempt.
- Veterans, individuals transitioning out of foster care, and unhoused individuals are also no longer exempt from work requirements.
- Individuals subject to the new work requirements must submit proof of employment by March 1st, 2026.
- You can read more about these changes HERE.
