Liccardo Votes NO on ICE Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16) voted against an extension of funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Before the vote, DHS Secretary Noem said ICE officers in Minneapolis will begin wearing body cameras. Liccardo released the following statement:

“Kristi Noem asserted that she ordered ICE to install body-worn cameras (BWC’s) on officers only in Minneapolis, but stalled deployment elsewhere, promising only to do so ‘as funding is available.'

“Noem’s evasive proclamation is head-scratching.  ICE has an ample budget today—aided by a windfall of $75 billion in the passage of the Big Ugly Bill last year— to deploy BWC’s on every officer in the nation today.   

“Ten years ago, we deployed body-worn cameras on every San José Police officer without a dime of federal money; every other major city police department has followed suit. Kristi Noem cries poverty in 2026 to deploy a basic accountability tool used by virtually every law enforcement agency in the nation. 

“Her agency is flooded with money, but lacking in accountability.  

“I voted against the two-week extension in ICE funding, but its passage gives us two weeks to address this disparity in dollars and accountability.  I propose a simple solution: shift tens of billions of dollars from ICE to local police departments, where taxpayers can support the work of accountable and professional public safety officers.”