An ICE office in Columbia?

I strongly condemn the secretive approval of an ICE office lease in Columbia without notice to local officials or community stakeholders. Actions that affect public safety and community trust should never be done behind closed doors. Our city deserves transparency, local oversight, and meaningful consultation, not backroom decisions that leave residents in the dark.

I do not support ICE’s enforcement approach or the expansion of its footprint in our communities. These tactics too often undermine trust, create fear among immigrant families, and weaken cooperation with local institutions and law enforcement. Columbia should be focused on policies that protect civil rights, strengthen neighborhoods, and keep families safe, not unilateral federal moves that do the opposite.

Friends: It has been more than two weeks since Alex Pretti was senselessly killed by CBP agents in Minneapolis. Americans across the political spectrum have spoken out.   The message is clear: there must be real and meaningful reforms to  ICE and CBP (Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol). In response, Democrats proposed a set of commonsense reforms. These changes would protect people’s constitutional rights, improve public safety, and ensure law enforcement acts responsibly:   Targeted Enforcement: Require a judge’s warrant before entering private property. No More Masks: Ban ICE agents from wearing face coverings. Officer Identification: Require agents to show identification and state who they are when asked. Protect Sensitive Locations: Stop enforcement actions at schools, daycares, churches, hospitals, and similar places. Stop Racial Profiling: Ban DHS officers from targeting people because of their race, job, or the language they speak. Use-of-Force Rules: Set clear limits on the use of force and require certification of officers. State and Local Oversight: Allow state and local governments to run independent investigations and require evidence to be preserved and shared. Detention Standards: Make sure detention facilities meet basic standards of care and access. Body Cameras for Accountability: Require body cameras, but ban their use to monitor people exercising their First Amendment rights, such as protesting. No Paramilitary Policing: Set clear rules for the uniforms and equipment used by DHS officers.

I want to hear from you. Do you support these reforms to ICE’s operations?

Unfortunately, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have refused to agree to these commonsense reforms. Democrats are continuing to negotiate in good faith. So far, the White House has offered only a vague counterproposal that does not seriously address the concerns raised by the American people. At the same time, funding for the Department of Homeland Security—which oversees ICE and CBP—expires this Friday night at midnight. Let me be clear: I will not vote to extend ICE and CBP’s funding unless these negotiations yield real progress toward reforms that stop these agencies’ lawless behavior and restore accountability.