Rep. Ilhan Omar is pushing legislation that would redirect nearly $140 billion previously appropriated to ICE and Customs and Border Protection and use it to help communities affected by federal immigration enforcement operations. The Minnesota Democrat introduced the Make ICE Pay Act with Rep. Angie Craig after Operation Metro Surge. Minneapolis estimates that the months-long federal immigration operation caused nearly $700 million in economic damage and other impacts. Under the bill, the redirected money would fund a grant program for affected states and communities, with eligible uses including economic relief, schools, health and mental-health services, increased local government costs and investigations related to immigration operations.
