Congress must continue to refuse DHS funding.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has been fired and the Senate once again voted down a DHS funding package that would have ended the department’s three-week shutdown. Although we recognize the significance of these events, we continue to be deeply alarmed by the impending threat of Noem’s successor and the heightened risks that this transition in leadership will inflict on our AAPI community.
Senator Markwayne Mullin, named Noem’s successor, has long been a threat to immigrant communities. Mullin, co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act, is an outspoken proponent for ICE’s lawlessness, a staunch opponent to sanctuary laws, and an advocate for mass deportation. It is more important than ever that Congress refuse to pass a budget for DHS without amendments to reign in or to hold Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) accountable for the wanton violence inflicted on our communities.
Our immigrant communities, many of whom have past trauma from kidnapping and vigilante violence in their countries of origin, are terrified of these masked ICE agents. In our Amicus Brief earlier this year, we spoke with refugees and trafficking survivors in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, who are now forced to relive these horrific memories as masked ICE agents raid our schools and workplaces.
ICE arrests of Asian migrants have tripled under this administration. In 2025, at least 32 individuals, including 6 Asian people, are known to have died in ICE custody. 2026 is currently on track to become the deadliest year with 9 deaths so far, including 1 Asian person. These figures exclude individuals who ICE/CBP have killed on our streets – such as Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a legally blind refugee from Myanmar who was released outside in freezing temperatures.
These stories are not unique to California, as we have seen with the militarized raid in Georgia, impacting nearly 300 South Korean workers, and the forced warrantless removal of Hmong-Americans from their homes in Minnesota.
We will not back down or soften our demands as Mullin takes the reigns from Noem. Congress must continue to refuse to fund ICE and CBP until our communities are protected from abuse, disappearances, and death at the hands of lawless agents. With the federal and state legislatures as well as courts— AJSOCAL will continue to fight for rights and safety for our communities.
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Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Founded in 1983, AJSOCAL supports over 15,000 individuals and organizations annually. By offering free legal help, engaging in impact litigation, conducting crucial research, and advocating for policy change, AJSOCAL prioritizes the most vulnerable members of AAPI communities while fostering a robust advocacy for civil rights and social justice. Offices are in downtown Los Angeles and Orange County, with satellite offices in Sacramento, ensuring accessibility for all. www.AJSOCAL.org
