U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
On behalf of our 3 million members and the 50 million students they serve, we urge you to maintain your opposition to the Fiscal Year 2026 funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as long as it fails to address serious concerns about the conduct of DHS—specifically, deploying Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and other federal agencies to instill fear and sow terror in our communities. Votes on this issue may be included in NEA’s report card for the 119th Congress.
The current approach to immigration enforcement is traumatizing U.S. citizens and immigrants alike. Some students are so terrified they refuse to leave home and have stopped going to school. In states like Minnesota, Maine, and Ohio, the aggressive behavior of federal agents on or near school grounds has disrupted learning and eroded trust in public safety. Across the country, reports of racial profiling, illegal searches, and violent confrontations have undermined the basic premise that schools and community spaces should be safe and peaceful.
So far in 2026, at least eight people have died after being assaulted or detained by ICE or Border Patrol. In Minneapolis, for example, two U.S. citizens were fatally wounded by federal agents who also rushed to mischaracterize their deaths, raising additional questions about truthfulness and a lack of oversight.
Now is the time for meaningful reforms to prevent future violence and further disruption of daily life. Specifically, I urge you to support legislation that would:
- Immediately end the occupation of our communities by ICE and CBP agents
- Prohibit immigration enforcement activities at sensitive locations like schools, early childhood centers, bus stops, hospitals, and places of worship
- Require judicial warrants for immigration enforcement and rescind policies that allow warrantless operations
- Require DHS to cooperate fully with state and local investigations of serious incidents
- Require ICE and CBP agents to behave like other law enforcement officials—at a minimum, wear body cameras, take off the masks, and display identification
This is no longer solely an immigration issue. It has become a matter of human rights, civil rights, and the safety of our communities.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Johnson Trinca
Director of Government Relations
National Education Association
