FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2026
Hundreds Protest for Continued Redirection of Funds from Healthcare to Harm with Press Conference co-sponsored by Congressional Hispanic Caucus and featuring Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, Congresswoman Analilia Mejia
Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, May 20, immigrants, working families, faith leaders, healthcare advocates, and community organizations from across the country will gather in Washington, D.C. for the “Fund Care, Not ICE” March to demand Congress reject $71 billion in funding for immigration enforcement during the reconciliation process and instead invest in healthcare, food assistance, and working families. Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) joins Popular Democracy, National Immigration Law Center, National Immigrant Justice Center, Fair Immigration Reform Movement, and more organizers of this event, which is expected to draw hundreds.
Participants will march from ICE headquarters to the U.S. Capitol before joining a press conference on Capitol grounds co-sponsored by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. The press conference will feature impacted individuals, immigrant leaders, healthcare advocates, organizers, and Members of Congress, including Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, Congresswoman Analilia Mejia, and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.
The press conference will help illustrate the impact of last year’s billion-dollar cuts to programs that are already harming thousands of individuals and families, and are projected to cause even more to lose Medicaid, food access, and Affordable Care Act coverage. These funds have been redirected to fund the expansion of immigration enforcement agencies and tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and corporations. This comes as Congress considers a reconciliation bill that puts billions more towards immigration enforcement.
“The cruel treatment of our disabled and non-disabled Black, brown and immigrant community members by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents and law enforcement is an outrage,” said Michelle Uzeta, Executive Director of DREDF. “People with disabilities, and those who are Deaf and hard of hearing, face an increased threat of violence and detention from DHS agents, while disabled people of color face a higher risk of violence from law enforcement across the board. ICE violence and detentions harms people with disabilities of all ages and their families, students, and caregivers. All members of Congress should vote no on additional funding for ICE and prioritize needed. Congress should fund care, access, representation and basic dignity, not abusive detention and violence in our streets.”
Organizers say the newest reconciliation bill does nothing to address the cost-of-living crisis. Instead, it is yet another blank check for ICE to carry out cruel, abusive, and illegal actions, including the killings of U.S. citizens and immigrants alike. Since President Trump took office, at least 49 people have died in ICE custody due to medical neglect, abuse, and dangerous conditions inside detention. That’s an average of one death every 10 days.
On May 13, 2026, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid delayed over 1 billion in payments to California’s Medicaid agency, directly threatening the essential home and community-based services (HCBS) that 900,000 people require to stay well and safe in their own homes. Without critical HCBS, people with disabilities will be forced into institutions or die. Disabled immigrants face the additional threat of detention. Impacted groups are coming together in community to demand Congress prioritize care, not ICE violence, detention, or institutionalization. Get the facts.
Visuals will include large-scale artwork, signs featuring Members of Congress, and memorial tributes honoring individuals who have died in immigration detention.
“Fund Care, Not ICE” Press Conference
WHO:
Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Popular Democracy
Congresswoman Delia Ramirez
Congresswoman Analilia Mejia
National Immigration Law Center
National Immigrant Justice Center
Fair Immigration Reform Movement
Immigrant leaders
Healthcare advocates
Impacted individuals
Community organizers
WHAT:
Capitol Press Conference opposing increased ICE funding and cuts to healthcare and food assistance programs. ASL provided.
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
TIME:
March – Banneker at 9:00 am
Presser – 11:00 am – 12:00 pm ET
WHERE:
United States Capitol
Area 11 (grassy area between Independence Ave SE and First St SE)
“Fund Care, Not ICE” March
WHO:
Popular Democracy
National Immigration Law Center
National Immigrant Justice Center
Fair Immigration Reform Movement
Detention Watch Network
Church World Service
Indivisible
Families Over Billionaires
Children Thrive Action Network
Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice
MoveOn
Coalition for Human Needs
CASA
Stand Up Alaska
National Women’s Law Center Action Fund
Immigrant families and impacted community members
Working families impacted by Medicaid, SNAP, and ACA cuts
WHAT:
“Fund Care, Not ICE” March
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
TIME:
9:00 AM ET — Gathering at Banneker Park
9:30 AM ET — March begins toward the U.S. Capitol
WHERE:
Benjamin Banneker Park
Contact:
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