Watson Coleman Votes Against Bill to Expand Power of ICE
Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) voted against legislation to expand the power of ICE. H.R. 2853 would have required the creation of the Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within Homeland Security Investigations. H.R. 2853 gives DHS sweeping new authority to collect, analyze, and share Americans’ personal data without meaningful civil liberties safeguards, adequate oversight, or accountability mechanisms. The Department of Homeland Security has shown itself to be a reckless organization resistent to even the barest of oversight. Given DHS's abusive and illegal actions under the Trump Administration, expanding their power and scope is an irresponsible decision.
H.R. 2853 is opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Vera Institute, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Dream.org, Federal Public and Community Defenders, Fwd.us, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, the National Immigration Law Center, the Center for Popular Democracy, and Common Cause.