Trump’s proposed 2018 budget is a vicious attack on critical programs in almost every corner of the federal budget. But there is one part of this shameful budget that calls for a splurge—mass deportation. Trump is asking Congress to pour $23 billion of your tax dollars into the boots, walls, and detention facilities that make up his out-of-control deportation machine. $1.6 billion of this funding will go to fund a border wall. And Trump has threatened a government shut down if he doesn’t get this funding.
The good news is Congress—not the President— decides how federal funds are spent. Trump’s budget proposal is just that: a proposal. It is non-binding. That means your MoC can decide to make or break Trump’s wall and deportation force with the power of the purse—and so far they have sided with Trump. Members of Congress need to hear from their constituents that they refuse to have their tax dollars used to fund hate.
At a time when unauthorized border crossings are at record lows, the House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that matches the vast majority of Trump’s anti-immigrant requests. These requests would divert funding from crucial programs on which working families rely, to fulfill Trump’s.
Call Rep. Mike Turner today and let him know that no budget that includes increases to Trump’s deportation force or any funding for Trump’s mass deportation agenda should get his support, even if that means withholding the votes needed to avert a government shutdown. Tell them you want a federal budget that invests in families, not fear.
Turner: (202) 225-6465
I am deeply concerned that Trump is willing to hold our government hostage and shut our government down to get funding for a border wall. The wall will cost an estimated 26 billion to build and could very well cost even more. A government shutdown will also costs the US tens of billions of dollars. We expect our elected official to demonstrate leadership. Will Representative Turner oppose funding for the wall and speak out publicly against Trump’s irresponsible threat of a government shutdown?