'Not One More Dime To ICE,' Montco Lawmaker Says

EASTERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — U.S. Rep Madeleine Dean said she won't support spending "one more dime for ICE" until Congress and the Trump Administration can curb the agency's actions, which have led to the deaths of two people in Minnesota.

The outspoken Democratic leader from Montgomery County, who is often featured on CNN, said she has previously supported the five remaining funding bills: Defense; Financial Services; Labor; Health & Human Services; Education, State & Foreign Operations; and THUD.

But not right now, Dean said.

"I supported these five bills when we were last here," Dean said in a Facebook post. "They are better because of Democratic leadership. But the murder of American citizens by our government forces me to use my leverage in the minority — my vote — to say not one more dime for ICE until their lawless, anti-American behavior ends."

President Donald Trump signed a sprawling spending package into law Tuesday, ending the partial government shutdown after just three days but creating another funding cliff for the Department of Homeland Security in two weeks, CNN reported.

Trump and Democrats now have two weeks to strike an agreement on how to rein in federal law enforcement, specifically Immigration and Customs Enforcement — or face another shutdown for the department that includes agencies from TSA to FEMA, CNN said.

"If these were normal times, I would be a firm ‘Yes’ vote. I want round-after-round of temporary spending bills to stop. I want all federal workers paid," Dean said. "But these are not normal times."

"We are in a dangerous and deadly place. This funding package also includes a continuing resolution for DHS until Feb. 13 — meaning ICE agents can continue their grotesque and thuggish behavior. Meaning Congress has only 10 days to agree on reform," Dean said.

Dean, a former Abington Township commissioner, said that DHS has already received $165 billion in the Republicans’ One Big Bill, with ICE getting a massive $75 billion infusion.

Dean outlined how ICE agents have killed two Americans in Minneapolis, two journalists have been arrested, children have been taken from their homes, and U.S. citizens have been unjustly detained. She also added that 35 people have died in ICE custody, and 15 have been shot.

U.S. Representative Madeleine Dean represents Pennsylvania's 4th Congressional District, which covers most of Montgomery County and parts of Berks County. She has been in office since 2019.