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Friends, this week, as members of People Power United, we must get loud with action. There are two real and urgent threats before us.

Earlier this week, we confronted the Suppress America’s Voters Act (SAVE). Today, we are demanding accountability for ICE. Both strike at the heart of our rights, our freedoms, our democracy, and the rule of law.

Power to the People Means ICE Out

Power to the people is more than a slogan. It is a promise that government must serve communities, protect human dignity, and remain accountable to the law. Today, that promise is under threat as President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security and ICE operate in ways that many Americans believe are dangerous, unlawful, and deeply out of step with our values.

Across the country, reports of ICE and Customs and Border Protection actions have sparked outrage and fear. Communities describe aggressive raids, the use of tear gas near schools, and deadly encounters that have shaken public trust. The killing of Alex Pretti, Renee Nicole Good, and others alongside the arrests by masked bandits have intensified national concern and helped drive public opinion to a breaking point. Support for the administration’s immigration policies has fallen to historic lows, while a strong majority of Americans say ICE has gone too far and want Congress to impose meaningful reforms and accountability before providing further funding.

As a grassroots movement committed to progress, we at People Power United believe immigration enforcement must respect human dignity, uphold justice, and guarantee real accountability. This moment demands moral clarity and courageous leadership. If power truly belongs to the people, then elected officials must listen when communities say enough is enough. That means Congress must remove ICE and DHS from places where their presence spreads fear rather than safety. It means drawing a clear line: no more funding for agencies that ignore the law, lack accountability, and spread fear in our communities. And it means insisting that accountability is not optional. It is the bare minimum in a democracy governed by law.

Here is what is being offered by Democratic Leaders Schumer and Jeffries for accountability:

Dramatic changes are needed at the Department of Homeland Security before there is a full-year funding bill. That’s why Democrats have proposed comprehensive reform1, including:
Mandatory body cameras
Judicial warrants requirement
No masks
Independent criminal and civil investigations
End roving and lawless patrols
No deportation and detention of U.S. citizens
Explicit prohibition on the excessive use of force
No targeting at sensitive locations like houses of worship, hospitals, polling places, and schools
End racial profiling
Kristi Noem must go
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expires on Friday and Republicans would rather risk shutting down critical agencies like FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard than work with Democrats to rein in ICE’s out-of-control brutality.

The urgency of this moment is compounded by massive new funding that was already handed to the Department of Homeland Security through a reconciliation bill that added $191 billion beyond the normal appropriations process. With dramatic increases for ICE enforcement, the U.S. immigration enforcement budget now rivals the scale of the world’s largest militaries, as working families face cuts to healthcare, housing, and so much more. This is a choice about priorities, and the American people are demanding a different one.

And in case you have not seen it, the Defense Department is now seeking even more funding.2 Here is our statement that was released:

At a time when we are already witnessing profound abuses of power by the Trump administration—including kidnappings, killings, and kleptocracy carried out with zero accountability—proposals to add hundreds of billions of dollars more to the Pentagon budget are both dangerous and morally indefensible. Expanding unchecked military spending while communities lack basic resources only deepens inequality and weakens democracy. The American people need investment in safety, health, housing, and freedom—not an obscene surge in militarization. People Power United strongly opposes the proposed $450–$500 billion Pentagon increase and urges Congress to prioritize accountability, human dignity, and the real needs of our communities.

Recent Senate action to redirect $75 billion away from ICE and toward restoring health care funding shows another path is possible.3 Those resources belong in our hospitals, our communities, and in the hands of families who need care—not in systems that spread fear and instability.

Power to the people means choosing dignity over cruelty, care over chaos, and democracy over unchecked force. It means saying clearly and without apology: ICE out of our communities, constitutional rights protected, funding redirected to health and well-being, and accountability restored under the rule of law.

Tell Congress: It’s Time to Defund ICE

Defund ICE

Together, we can champion Freedom Over Fascism, Progress, and Power to the People

People Power United members are committed to championing progress and power to the people. We don’t just complain; we do the work to make change happen.

Help build people power: tap the ❤️, speak out in the comments, and restack this post to spread this call for justice.

ICE Accountability

Power to All Eligible Voters: Reject the Save Act

🚨 Click here to Stop Republicans’ New Attack on Voting Rights
📩 Click here to Tell Congress to Reject the SAVE Act Bills
Click here to Tell your member of Congress to co-sponsor and support the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Click here to send a StandUp America message to lawmakers

Call and/or Send a Message on both issues here. See script for suggested talking points:

📞 Call (202) 224-3121 today—and every day until the vote. Ask to speak with your Representatives and Senators and use the script below.
Act today: Send a private message to your Members of Congress and do it every day until the vote. Suggested talking points below.
Letter / Phone Script

Hello, my name is [NAME], and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP CODE].
I’m calling/writing to urge [REP/SENATOR NAME] to vote NO on the SAVE Act and the MEGA Act. These bills would make it harder for eligible Americans to register and vote, and that weakens our democracy.
I am also encouraging you to VOTE YES for ICE accountability. No more funding for agencies that ignore the law, lack accountability, and spread fear in our communities.
Please let [REP/SENATOR NAME] know that I expect them to defend the freedom to vote and hold ICE accountable for their actions.
Thank you for your time.

People power expands when ordinary people step in, speak up, and demand accountability from those in power. Every day, we’re proving that the future belongs to people who refuse to be silent or sidelined.

That’s why it’s so important to join the National Day of Action for No Kings. If you’ve heard anyone say nothing is happening, know this: action is happening everywhere. Communities across the country are organizing right now—and you can too. Bring together friends, family, and coworkers to stand against fascism and to champion progress and power to the people.

The Complete Guide to the No Kings Day of Action is now available.

Thanks for taking action!

People Power United Updates

Our group is growing by leaps and bounds! Folks understand that with love in our hearts and hard work, we will reclaim our nation from cruelty, chaos, and confusion. We are having fun making impactful changes in our community! In case you missed it, this past week was busy:

People Power United joined coalition efforts to advocate for free and fair elections for all eligible voters, and halt handing blank checks to ICE
People Power United joined two Amicus briefs for upcoming cases at the Supreme Court
People Power United members signed on to several petitions and letters to Members of Congress advocating for progress and Power to the People
We sent out several updates and news briefs via our newsletters.

✨ Together we can inspire change!

People Power United is a grassroots group of over 300,000+ members in all 50 states-powered by people like YOU. We champion progress and power to the people.

We believe in change because we make change happen.

Here’s what makes us special:
💡 Grassroots energy: No fundraising, no constant emails asking for donations.
📢 Impact through action: We believe in the possibility of change and do the work to make it happen. We don’t just complain, we make change happen!

In this community, we will never stay silent in the face of hate or bigotry. We stand up and speak out against racism, xenophobia, islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and every form of discrimination that seeks to divide and harm.

We believe:

Everyone deserves dignity —with access to housing, healthcare, and education.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive — regardless of age, race, sex, sexual preference, preferred pronouns, religion, or employment status.
Everyone deserves safety—clean air and water, and communities free from gun violence.

Join us to build People Power! Together, we can protect and empower those we love, champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people’s will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.

The power is in your hands. Let’s fight for freedom over fascism—because our future depends on it.

What You Can Do

People Power United doesn’t fundraise, but your support can make all the difference. Hearts ❤️, comments🗣️, shares 📢, and follows 📌are always appreciated. Follow us on BlueSky and/or other social media
Click here to support our efforts by becoming a paid subscriber or gifting to someone you know.

Join us to build People Power! Together, we can champion our rights, freedoms, and democracy, hold our leaders accountable to the people’s will, and inspire voters to make a meaningful difference.

Laurie Woodward Garcia (paid with hugs and kisses, not bought by special interests)

Leader, People Power United

Representing America’s largest grassroots organization with over 300,000+ members, driven entirely by the energy and commitment of everyday people. We are proudly 100% independent, powered by people—not special interests.

Laurie joining other activists and organizations to drop thousands of petitions off to Congress for reforms to the Supreme Court

People Power United | In this community, we will always speak out against racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, elitism, transphobia, misogynoir, and bigotry!

People Power United is a group of community members that champions freedom over fascism, progress, and power to the people.

When you become a paid subscriber to People Power United’s newsletter, you’re investing in real, grassroots change. You’re backing a fearless community that shows up, speaks out, and organizes for justice—not for clicks, not for profit, but for people. Your support helps power the daily actions, urgent campaigns, and bold strategies that challenge the status quo and put democracy back in the hands of the many—not the wealthy few. This isn’t just a newsletter—it’s your front-row seat to the fight for progress. And your subscription? That’s your stake in a future we build together.

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1

https://jeffries.house.gov/2026/02/04/leaders-jeffries-and-schumer-deliver-urgent-ice-reform-demands-to-republican-leadership/

2

https://breakingdefense.com/2026/02/exclusive-hasc-chair-seeking-450b-for-defense-in-reconciliation/

3

https://truthout.org/articles/all-democrats-backed-sanders-push-to-repeal-75b-for-ice-to-undo-medicaid-cuts/

People Power United | News & Action

📢 Power to the People Means ICE Out