Pressure is mounting on Congress to confront long-standing abuses and check egregious, frequently illegal conduct by the Trump administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). And now, lawmakers have one week to act.
This week, ICE withdrew roughly 700 agents from Minnesota following sustained public pressure and community outcry over aggressive and unaccountable enforcement tactics. Accountability is possible when pressure is applied, but temporary pullbacks are no substitute for structural reforms. Because DHS funding has been separated from the rest of the federal budget, lawmakers can use this time to rein in ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The choice before Congress is clear: Either use this window to impose commonsense safeguards or allow ICE to continue operating with broad authority and minimal oversight.
Under the Trump administration, ICE and CBP have dramatically escalated their use of force, operated with increasing secrecy, and repeatedly undermined basic civil rights protections. The need for reforms is clear. CAP’s recent report outlines achievable steps Congress should take now to rein in the administration’s terrorizing approach to immigration enforcement, including:
Holding ICE and CBP agents to the same standard as local police—making them wear uniforms that clearly identify their agency, be unmasked, and be equipped with body-worn cameras during public enforcement actions
Reforming hiring, screening, and training to remove unqualified personnel
Holding personnel accountable for improper uses of force and allegations of misconduct
Preserving Americans’ constitutional rights and operating within the rule of law
Enhancing accountability to Congress and the public
Importantly, these reforms are not just about restoring accountability and the rule of law; they are critical to keeping our communities safe. Communities cannot trust agencies that operate without transparency, and Congress cannot fulfill its constitutional oversight role if it continues to provide funding without conditions.
Lawmakers now have a narrow window to negotiate reforms that protect civil rights, enhance oversight, and ensure ICE operates within the bounds of the law.
The Trump family has pocketed more than $2B since the start of his second term
As American families are struggling with the rising costs of groceries, health care, and housing, the Trump family has officially amassed more than $2 billion in cash and gifts since November 2024.
This surge follows a bombshell report from The Wall Street Journal that revealed a secret $500 million deal between the Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, and an investment vehicle backed by a high-ranking United Arab Emirates (UAE) royal.
Donald Trump is selling the presidency to the highest bidders. Follow the money with CAP's real-time financial tracker documenting all the cash and gifts the Trump family has received:
CAP CEO Neera Tanden on the threat of the SAVE Act
At President Trump’s urging, conservatives are making a renewed push to pass the SAVE Act—which will make it harder for millions of Americans to vote by requiring them to show a passport or birth certificate. Neera Tanden explains on BBC:
10 policy recommendations for cellphone-free schools
Photo: Getty Images
Over the past two years, 17 states plus Washington, D.C., have banned the use of cellphones and other mobile devices throughout the instructional day for all grades; 15 states have implemented policies that limit use; and four states have implemented policies requiring districts to adopt their own rules on cellphone use. Additionally, eight states have not implemented a mandatory policy but are encouraging district action through agency guidance, grant programs, or resolutions, while six states have yet to take any official action.
Excessive cellphone use is impacting students’ health and academic performance, leading to school leaders and teachers unions increasingly calling for cellphone-free schools. To protect student well-being and eliminate learning distractions, policymakers should heed the recommendations of education and health experts by banning cellphone and mobile device use in K-12 schools.
RSVP: Economic Experts Debate the Best Policies to Reduce the Cost of Living
Americans are struggling with the cost of living, including for basic needs such as housing, groceries, utilities, child care, and health care. One contributor to rising prices is supply shortages that may require structural reforms and years to rectify. For the near term, recent proposals aimed at delivering swift relief from high costs have included policies such as tax credits and subsidies, leveraging government purchasing power, or capping the prices of specific goods or services. Such policies could immediately lessen cost-of-living pressures for consumers. Yet, by interfering with market demand and price signals, such measures can pose steep risks of unintended consequences.
Please join the Center for American Progress on Tuesday, February 10, at 11:00 a.m. ET, for an event featuring a panel of leading economic thinkers who will debate the trade-offs of various policy approaches to address current affordability challenges.
From restoring social trust in our democratic systems to building an economy that works for everyone, we are committed to developing solutions that solve the real-life challenges Americans face every day. Help us continue our crucial work by getting involved and advocating for a better future for all.
