Ilhan Omar Proposes Redirecting $140 Billion from ICE to Affected Cities

The proposed bill seeks to strip the funding allocated in last year’s Republican budget, redirecting those resources toward recovery efforts in communities that have faced the brunt of federal enforcement actions. Omar argues that the agency has utilized these funds to expand a network of detention centers and support a hiring blitz that has led to documented abuses and the profiling of U.S. citizens. According to city estimates, Minneapolis alone incurred costs of nearly $700 million due to the impact of these operations.

Under the legislation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development would distribute the reclaimed funds to states and cities, including California, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, and Oregon. The money is intended to provide economic relief, reimburse local governments for costs associated with raids, and support social services for those affected. Co-sponsors include Reps. Jesús García, Rashida Tlaib, Chellie Pingree, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Janelle Bynum, and Angie Craig.