Issued March 16, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to President Trump’s $30 billion "supplemental" budget request to Congress that includes $3 billion in new spending for The Department of Homeland Security as a down payment on the wall and Trump's mass deportation force, SEIU International Executive Vice President and iAmerica Action President Rocio Sáenz issued the following statement:
“President Trump’s budget request will not make our country any safer, instead it will continue to terrorize immigrant families and hurt the economy for all working people. His request would ramp up efforts to break up American families, deport our neighbors who call America their home, and create chaos in our communities. That is unacceptable and does not reflect our nation’s heritage and values.
“Our tax dollars should be spent on much needed resources for our community like expanding access to healthcare, building schools, creating jobs, and not on a deportation force that will round up immigrants who work hard to provide the best life possible for their families.
“The criminalization of immigrants and communities of color is hurting families. The SEIU and its 2 million members will fight to uphold our American values of diversity, inclusion, and fairness. We will not let this administration and Republican leaders use our tax dollars to implement their anti-immigrant agenda.
“We urge members of Congress to deny any additional funding for the Trump administration's mass deportation force."