U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, fresh off a hearing in Minneapolis focused on immigration enforcement tactics, called for more oversight and restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Clark, appearing on WBUR's Morning Edition Tuesday, said her Democratic colleagues see an opportunity as Congress weighs a Homeland Security funding bill.
The federal spending bill passed this summer included tens of billions of dollars for ICE personnel and facilities.
" ICE does not need more money. They have seven times the amount of money that they’ve had in past budgets, and they’re taking away programs that actually do help keep the American people safe," the Massachusetts Democrat said.
Clark said she has been talking to her Republican colleagues about restrictions such as requiring agents to wear body cameras.
"There's not going to be a cent more that we can support without these proper guardrails and accountability," Clark said.
She said they also want a full investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Macklin Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis.
"The Trump administration has deployed an untrained, unvetted secret police onto the streets of the communities of Minnesota," Clark said. "And there is nothing to stop them from doing that in Massachusetts or in other places around the country."
Clark said she wasn't aware of any specific plans for the Trump administration to send more federal agents to the state, but said many are already on the ground.
"ICE is already here in a very disturbing and dangerous way," she said.
Congress has until the end of the month to pass a new spending plan, or risk another government shutdown. Clark would not say whether Democrats would consider shutting down the government again to reach those goals.
On Tuesday, the Appropriations Committees released the text of a Homeland Security funding bill.
House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rep. Rosa DeLauro said in a statement the proposed funding bill takes "steps in the right direction, such as cutting ICE enforcement and removal operations and reducing the number of detention beds, but it does not include broader reforms Democrats proposed."
Some Democrats have made calls to completely abolish or defund ICE.
DeLauro said she shared frustration with those colleagues, but advocated for the bill to avoid lapses that could affect TSA, FEMA assistance and the U.S. Coast Guard.
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Original story HERE.
Permalink: https://katherineclark.house.gov/2026/1/wbur