Cortez Masto Introduces Legislation to Redirect Excessive ICE Funding to Local Police

Her bill would help hire 200,000 local cops, while cutting ICE’s budget by 88%
Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced thePUBLIC SAFETY Actto redirect almost $75 billion in funding passed in the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and send it instead to local law enforcement programs to help hire and train 200,000 local cops in communities across the U.S.
While federal law enforcement has an important role to play in targeting undocumented violent criminals and securing the border, the Trump Administration’s immigration policies are not keeping Americans safe. Instead, the reckless Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Kristi Noem, is putting thousands of unprepared and undertrained agents in our communities with unacceptable results. In the past year,ProPublicaestimates that ICE has detained over 170 U.S. citizens. As of late November 2025,73% of individualsheld in ICE detention did not have a criminal conviction, and less than5%had a violent criminal conviction. At the same time, ICE hasloweredits training and hiring standards, puttingundertrainedandunvettedagents on the streets, straining alreadyunder-staffedpolice departments, and creating moredistrustof local law enforcement.
“The Trump Administration’s actions are not making our communities any safer, in fact they’re doing just the opposite,”said Senator Cortez Masto. “Instead of giving ICE $75 billion extra dollars to hire untrained ICE agents to patrol American communities, let’s invest that money where it will actually help – in hiring local police officers who are trained to fight crime in a way that earns community trust.”
Cortez Masto’s bill would prioritize effective law enforcement by investing in local police officers who undergo thorough training and have real ties to the communities they serve. TheProviding Useful Budgets for Localities to Invest in Cops by Substituting Appropriations from Federal Enforcement To Yield Results (PUBLIC SAFETY) Actwould:
This bill wouldnotrescind ICE’s regular appropriations, leaving the agency with historically normal funding levels to conduct traditional immigration enforcement operations.
For a one-pager with additional information, clickhere.
This bill is cosponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).
Senator Cortez Masto is a leading advocate in the Senate for our police officers. She has fought for funding for theByrne JAG grant program, the leading source of criminal justice funding in the country. Herbipartisan bills to combat the crisis of law enforcement suicide,provide mental health resourcesto police officers, andsupport familiesof retired fallen law enforcement officers have been signed into law by presidents of both parties. She has also consistently supported common sensebordersecuritymeasures that keep our communities safe and treat immigrant families with dignity.
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