Rep. Sykes Statement on Final Appropriations Package with DHS Stopgap
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the House’s passage of the final appropriations minibus with a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) two-week stopgap attached, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) released the following statement explaining why she could not support the package:
“Just weeks ago, I proudly voted for a bipartisan appropriations package that invested in families, workers, public health, infrastructure, and our servicemembers, while rejecting harmful policy riders and putting people over politics,” said Rep. Sykes. “I continue to strongly support those five funding bills and the critical investments they make in our communities.
But I cannot support this final package. The Senate attached a DHS stopgap, even for just two weeks, without any credible or transparent steps taken by President Trump or Secretary Noem to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement or prevent further loss of life.
For weeks, Democrats have offered reasonable reforms to stop dangerous ICE practices and bring accountability to an agency that has repeatedly put lives at risk, including the killing of American citizens. These common-sense reforms would require judicial warrants for enforcement actions, prohibit the detention and deportation of American citizens, ban excessive use of force, enhance training and use of body cameras, and prohibit masks during enforcement actions. Those reforms were rejected. The length of the funding measure does not change the fact that the administration cannot be trusted to continue DHS operations without basic guardrails in place.
I support law enforcement and public safety. But funding enforcement practices without accountability, even temporarily, undermines civil rights, due process, and human dignity.
The partial government shutdown that began this weekend underscores the consequences of refusing to address these failures. This situation didn’t have to happen. Republicans and the Administration can still fix it by adopting serious ICE reforms, restoring accountability, and sending the House a funding package that reflects our shared responsibility to govern.”