Gallego Introduces Resolution Reaffirming ICE Cannot Arrest or Deport U.S. Citizens

WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)introduced a resolution reaffirming that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has no authority to arrest, detain, interrogate, or deport U.S. citizens.
“ICE exists to enforce immigration law, so it should be a no-brainer: U.S. citizens can’t be detained by ICE. But in Trump’s America, citizens are being thrown into detention centers just because of how they look to meet an arbitrary quota. It’s outrageous and illegal,”said Senator Gallego.“I introduced this resolution to make it clear that the Senate stands against this rogue and unlawful behavior.”
This comes aftermultiplereportsof U.S. citizens being wrongfully arrested, detained, interrogated, and deported, including inArizona– which ICE has no authority to do.
Not only are these actions unconstitutional, but ICE’s own internal guidance states, “As a matter of law, ICE cannot assert its civil immigration enforcement authority to arrest and/or detain a U.S. citizen.” U.S. citizens also cannot be deported under U.S. law.
Read the full resolutionHERE.
7/31/25