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To the members of Congress:
The American public is not confused about who controls federal agencies. The Constitution is explicit: Congress holds the power of the purse, the power to legislate and the power to oversee. When an agency like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operates in ways that raise public concern — whether about priorities, transparency or basic civil‑liberties protections — the responsibility for correction does not fall on the courts or the executive branch. It falls on you.
For too long, ICE has functioned in a gray zone created not by lawlessness, but by legislative inattention. Congress has allowed broad statutory language, open‑ended appropriations and inconsistent oversight to shape an agency that is powerful without being clearly directed. That is not how a constitutional democracy governs enforcement power.
It is time for Congress to reclaim its authority.
1) Use the power of the purse with precision.
Appropriations are not symbolic. They are binding law. Congress can:
- Fence off funds for specific programs.
- Prohibit spending on practices that violate congressional intent.
- Require compliance benchmarks before money is released.
This is not “defunding.” It is governing. If ICE’s priorities do not reflect the will of the American people, Congress has the tools to correct course immediately.
