U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, who has represented Washington’s 7th district since 2017, recently took to social media to voice concerns over congressional funding for immigration enforcement agencies and the conduct of her Republican colleagues.
On January 19, 2026, Jayapal posted, “In the upcoming DHS appropriations bill, Congress cannot give another dime to ICE or CBP without significant guardrails and accountability measures put in place. We cannot continue to fund this lawlessness and the attacks on immigrants and US citizens alike.”
Later that day, she addressed an accountability hearing she held in Minnesota: “On Friday, I held an accountability hearing in Minnesota with 28 Members of Congress. Not a single Republican was there. They are handing over Congress’s constitutional powers and duties to Trump. It is time for Republicans to stand up for our country over their cult leader.” The tweet criticized Republican lawmakers for their absence at the event and accused them of ceding congressional authority.
The following day, Jayapal commented on public demonstrations in Minnesota: “The people of Minnesota have been nothing but peaceful in their resistance. But Trump wants to paint them as violent so his administration can continue its assault on their communities. The violence is coming directly from ICE and CBP.”
Jayapal’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over U.S. immigration policy and the role of federal enforcement agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Congressional appropriations bills determine funding levels for these agencies each fiscal year.
Pramila Jayapal was born in Chennai in 1965 and currently resides in Seattle. Before her tenure in Congress, which began after succeeding Jim McDermott in 2017, she served in the Washington State Senate from 2014 to 2016. She holds degrees from Georgetown University (BA) and Northwestern University.
