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House Republicans Unanimously Vote Against Not Deporting U.S. Citizens [1]
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Date: 2025-05-03
In a move that has raised constitutional concerns, Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee unanimously voted down an amendment Wednesday that would have prohibited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from detaining or deporting American citizens using federal funds.
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), was part of a broader budget bill passed by the House on April 10. It aimed to codify a clear boundary: that ICE cannot target U.S. citizens for immigration enforcement actions (a protection many might assume already exists).
According to Jayapal, the need for the amendment has grown urgent under President Donald Trump’s second term, during which multiple U.S. citizens have reportedly been detained by ICE, some held for weeks or even deported. Jayapal called the practice "unconstitutional, dangerous, and fundamentally wrong," citing the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship rights.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) described the vote as one of the most disturbing he has witnessed in committee proceedings, saying he and his Democratic colleagues were left “stunned” by the refusal to affirm such a basic protection.
In the same session, the Judiciary Committee advanced sweeping immigration enforcement measures, including:
$45 billion in funding to detain 100,000 migrants,
Support for the removal of up to one million migrants per year , and
Provisions to expand expedited removal powers.
These developments come amid an escalating legal battle between the Trump administration and the judiciary. In recent months:
The U.S. Supreme Court ordered the government to return a man deported to El Salvador after he was denied due process,
A federal judge ordered the release of a Palestinian student at Columbia University , and
The courts blocked use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport Venezuelans.
Despite these rulings, the administration has signaled it will continue to challenge court orders and push the limits of immigration enforcement.
Legal experts note that this vote may set the stage for further clashes between Congress, the courts, and the executive branch over the rights of citizens and the limits of federal authority.
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