Stories

Browse major news stories and see what officials have said.

May 26, 2026· Updated

ICE Pepper-Sprays Senator at Delaney Hall as NJ Governor Denied Entry Amid Detainee Hunger Strike

Over Memorial Day weekend 2026, more than 300 detainees at Delaney Hall — a 1,000-bed private ICE detention facility in Newark, NJ operated by GEO Group — launched a hunger and labor strike protesting spoiled food, inadequate medical care, and lack of due process. New Jersey lawmakers attempted oversight visits and were blocked from entering; on May 26, Sen. Andy Kim was pepper-sprayed by ICE agents in riot gear as he tried to de-escalate clashes between protesters and officers outside the facility. Governor Mikie Sherrill was formally denied entry when she attempted to inspect the facility on May 25. Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Rob Menendez, Rep. LaMonica McIver, and Rep. Frank Pallone also visited and condemned conditions. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin flatly denied a hunger strike was occurring and accused the lawmakers of staging a "political stunt" for "fundraising clicks."

“What I witnessed and experienced today was shameful. Delaney Hall is a failure; it's this administration's failure. The only way to make this right for our communities is to shut it down and make sure the failures we've seen never happen again.”
Andy Kim (D-NJ) · May 26, 2026

May 20, 2026· Updated

Senate Republicans Advance $72 Billion ICE and CBP Reconciliation Bill

Senate Republicans advanced a nearly $72 billion budget reconciliation package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement ($38.2B) and Customs and Border Protection ($26B) through FY2029, plus $1 billion for White House security upgrades. The Senate Homeland Security Committee approved its portion 8-7 on May 19, 2026, followed by the Budget Committee advancing the bill 11-10 on May 20, clearing it for a Senate floor vote before the planned June 2 recess. The package — the largest immigration enforcement funding proposal in U.S. history — advances via reconciliation, requiring only 51 votes and bypassing a Democratic filibuster.

“I didn't come prepared with the long list of victims of illegal immigrant crime: Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, and a very long list of … I don't have the list of the literally tens of thousands, I think over hundreds of thousands, of children lost, immigrant children shuffled through the system, probably into the hands of sex traffickers.”
Ron Johnson (R-WI) · May 20, 2026

Senate Adopts $70 Billion Budget Resolution to Fund ICE and Border Patrol

In the predawn hours of April 23, 2026, the Senate voted 50-48 to adopt a non-binding budget resolution that unlocks up to $70 billion in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol, a key step toward ending the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown that began in mid-February. Republicans Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only members of their party to vote against the resolution. The measure authorizes the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security committees to draft reconciliation legislation funding the two agencies for three years, through the end of President Trump's term. The resolution now moves to the House, which has not yet voted. Speaker Mike Johnson said he expects the House to pass it. President Trump has set a June 1 deadline for final passage of the reconciliation bill.

“We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America's borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies.”
John Thune (R-SD) · Apr 23, 2026

Apr 15, 2026· Updated

Trump Feuds With Pope Leo XIV Over Iran War and Immigration

An escalating clash between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV — the first American-born pope — has emerged as one of the defining conflicts of 2026. The feud spans two fronts: Leo's condemnation of the Iran war (calling Trump's threats "truly unacceptable" and denouncing a "delusion of omnipotence") and his criticism of mass deportation policies as "extremely disrespectful." Trump responded with an extraordinary broadside, calling Leo "very liberal," "weak on crime," and "terrible for foreign policy," and claiming "If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican." The Vatican canceled a planned 250th anniversary visit over foreign policy disagreements.

“I was taken a little bit aback, just honestly, frankly, by something that he said about those who engage in war, that Jesus doesn't hear their prayers. There's something called the just war doctrine. There's a time to every purpose under heaven. I'm not one to criticize clerics — a pontiff or any religious leader can say anything they want. But obviously if you wade into political waters, I think you should expect some political response, and I think the pope's received some of that. These are matters that people of good faith and good sense can debate and think through.”
Mike Johnson (R-LA) · Apr 15, 2026

2026 DHS Government Shutdown

The Department of Homeland Security entered a partial shutdown on February 14, 2026 after Congress failed to agree on DHS funding, with Democrats demanding reforms to ICE and CBP operations following the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents. The shutdown — the longest in US history — left over 100,000 DHS employees working without pay, caused TSA staffing crises, and triggered competing House and Senate funding bills.

“I will soon sign an order to pay ALL of the incredible employees at the Department of Homeland Security. Help is on the way for our Brave and Patriotic Public Servants who have continued to work hard, and do their part to protect and defend our Country.”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Apr 2, 2026

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Trump Birthright Citizenship Order

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 1, 2026 in Trump v. Barbara, challenging President Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship. Trump became the first sitting president to attend oral arguments. A majority of justices, including Trump appointees Barrett and Gorsuch, expressed strong skepticism. A decision is expected by the end of June 2026.

“We are the only Country in the World STUPID enough to allow 'Birthright' Citizenship!”
Donald Trump (R-FL) · Apr 1, 2026

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7 statements

Feb 2, 2026· Updated

Government Shutdown Showdown Over Immigration

With six appropriations bills unfunded and a January 30 deadline looming, Senate Democrats are blocking the $1.2 trillion spending package unless restrictions are placed on ICE enforcement operations. The standoff follows the longest shutdown in US history (43 days) that ended in November 2025 and centers on immigration policy disagreements amplified by the Minneapolis killings.

“We saw what happened in the last government shutdown in regards to how it hurt real, hardworking Americans”
Katie Britt (R-AL) · Feb 2, 2026

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