Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) criticized the Trump administration following a ProPublica investigation that found over 170 U.S. citizens had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents this year.
“This report is absolutely shocking,” Jayapal, the top Democrat on the Subcommittee of Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, wrote on the social media platform X. “ICE does not have the authority to detain US citizens during immigration enforcement — full stop.”
“The Trump administration is out of control, violating the rights of American citizens,” she continued. “They must be held accountable.”
The ProPublica investigation, published Thursday, identified cases of citizens being detained by ICE agents at raids or protests. Agents arrested around 130 U.S. citizens and held nearly two dozen for longer than a day without allowing them to call lawyers or family members.
Reporters found at least three instances of pregnant people being detained and multiple instances of citizens being shot, tased, beaten, or otherwise physically harmed by agents.
ICE has the power to arrest U.S. citizens if they interfere with or assault agents. ProPublica’s reporters identified 130 instances where U.S. citizens were accused of doing so but noted in almost 50, charges were dismissed or never filed.
Since entering office, Trump has significantly increased the budget of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — ICE’s parent agency — to increase deportations and border enforcement.
Jayapal has previously criticized the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement operation. She introduced legislation in July to “formally block” ICE from detaining or deporting U.S. citizens.
“ICE is acting like a rogue force, kidnapping and disappearing people off the streets with no due process,” Jayapal said in a release announcing the legislation.
“Congress must act to make it abundantly clear, with absolutely no grey area, that ICE cannot do this and ensure that agents who do act outside of their authority are held accountable,” she said.
