FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 1, 2025
Contact: [email protected]
Rep. Michael Baumgartner Votes to Detain and Deport U.S. Citizens
Seattle, WA – Yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee, Representative Michael Baumgartner (WA-05) and other Trump Republicans voted to kill Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s (WA-07) amendment clarifying that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) must not detain or deport U.S. citizens. In speaking for the amendment, Rep. Jayapal stated “this should not be a partisan issue. It’s about protecting the most basic constitutional rights of U.S. citizens.”
Rep. Jayapal related instances of U.S. citizens detained and arrested by ICE agents in Wisconsin and New Mexico as well as U.S. citizens aged two, four, and seven who were deported last weekend with “no meaningful due process.” Despite real world examples of U.S. citizens having their constitutional rights trampled by immigration officials, Rep. Baumgartner refused to affirm the constitutional rights of citizens and tacitly authorized ICE to continue its unconstitutional actions as directed by the Trump administration.
“Rep. Michael Baumgartner’s constituents in Eastern Washington deserve answers about why their elected Congressman would vote to strip them of their constitutional rights,” said Chair Shasti Conrad. “The daily outrages of the Trump administration’s attacks on anyone perceived to be an immigrant, usually without evidence, and the refusal to comply with lawful orders from the co-equal judicial branch of the government are creating a maelstrom of numerous constitutional crises. Rep. Baumgartner’s inaction and fealty to this administration over his oath to uphold the Constitution is an affront to the hard-working people of Eastern Washington who deserve better. It’s no wonder Washington Democrats heard from constituents at our People’s Town Hall who are reconsidering their support and votes for the Republican Party.”
The Washington State Democratic Party is committed to advancing progressive policy, empowering the grassroots, and ensuring Democratic victories up and down the ballot. Chair of the Washington Democrats, Shasti Conrad, is the first Indian-American woman to chair a major state party.
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