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 VOTE NO on the Fiscal Year 2026 funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Votes on this issue may be included in NEA’s report card for the 119th Congress.
We strongly oppose any increase in DHS funding due to the deeply troubling violations of civil liberties by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol (USBP) agents—and the lack of accountability for behavior that has traumatized students, interrupted learning, and eroded trust in public safety. Educators are seeing the impact firsthand—in increased anxiety, absenteeism, and a mounting need for counseling and mental health support.
Recently, a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis resulted in the fatal shooting of Renée Nicole Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, by an ICE agent. A few miles away, federal agents assaulted and pepper-sprayed high school students on school grounds—a clear violation of the basic premise that schools are safe places to learn.
Good was killed during a large-scale DHS action that has since drawn national scrutiny and widespread protests. But her senseless death is not an isolated incident. The ongoing deployment of federal agents throughout the country has included thousands of arrests, aggressive confrontations with civilians, and racial profiling. Schools, medical facilities, places of worship, and other community spaces have been invaded. Over the last year, ICE and USBP have taken more than 325,000 people; at least 24 of them suffered gunshot wounds, resulting in six fatalities.
This is no longer solely an immigration issue. It has become a matter of human rights, civil rights, and the safety of our communities.
We urge you to oppose any increase in DHS funding that enables the continued deployment of armed and masked federal agents by a lawless agency lacking adequate oversight and accountability. Congress must demand transparency, enforce strict limits on the use of force, and prioritize resources that protect civil liberties and public safety.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Johnson Trinca
Director of Government Relations
National Education Association
