For Immediate Release: May 1, 2026
Contact: Heather Cabral, 202-550-6880, hcabral@faithinaction.org
Washington – Last night, President Trump signed into law funding for the Department of Homeland Security after nearly 11 weeks of a partial government shutdown.
Leaders with Faith in Action shared the following statements:
Dwayne Royster, executive director, Faith in Action, “This vote is a sobering reminder that fear continues to drive far too many of our nation’s decisions. Expanding funding for ICE by tens of billions of dollars does not make our communities safer, it deepens harm, fuels division, and turns our backs on the very values far to many of our elected officials claim to uphold.
As people of faith, we are called to welcome the stranger, to protect families, and to pursue justice—not punishment. Congress must choose a different path—one rooted in dignity, compassion, and the sacred worth of every human being.”
Alex Gonzalez, National Immigration Campaign Manager, Faith in Action
“We have been building organized momentum, continuing to call on our representatives and decision makers to value the dignity of people over the interests of the few. In this moment, we are called to keep lifting our voices, to speak truth to power, to elevate the stories of those most impacted, and to maintain steady, unrelenting pressure on those in power to reject funding that harms our neighbors. This proposed funding is not just a policy decision. It is a call to action. And we will send a clear and unwavering message: this is not what people of faith and moral courage stand for, and this is not what people in this country would like to see. “
Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, political director, Faith in Action
“The decision to unlock more than $70 billion in future funding for immigration enforcement reveals a troubling set of priorities. At a time when families across this country are struggling to pay for basic necessities like food, gas and medicine, Congress has chosen to double down on a system that too often criminalizes, detains, and separates our neighbors rather than investing in the dignity and well-being of our communities. We refuse to accept enforcement over care!” In this moment when Black, Brown and other people of Color are under attack from all branches of government we believe faith calls us not to stand by but to stand up and act. Every member of Congress, in every district, needs to hear from every person of faith and moral courage in the next two weeks and demand that they say no.
This week’s vote to advance funding for ICE and CBP is not just a procedural step, it is a moral one. And it sends a clear message about who is valued and who is targeted. At Faith in Action, we believe our nation is strongest when we lead with compassion, justice, and humanity. We call on our leaders to reject policies rooted in fear and enforcement, and instead invest in solutions that uphold the sacred worth of every person.”
