Critics argue it will turbocharge an already aggressive deportation machine, deepen suffering for millions of families, and offer tax cuts to wealthy Americans.
A sweeping new spending package passed by Congress has ignited fierce backlash from civil rights advocates, immigrant rights groups, and progressive leaders.
The „One Big Beautiful Bill“ (OBBB) expands funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while slashing key social safety net programs, including Medicaid and food assistance. The legislation is widely seen by the GOP as President Donald Trump’s flagship domestic policy achievement, cementing his policy agenda.
The measure passed the House of Representatives by a narrow margin of 218–214, with all House Democrats voting against it and two Republicans breaking ranks.
Proponents say the funds will hire thousands of ICE agents, increase detention capacity, and complete the border wall. Critics argue it will turbocharge an already aggressive deportation machine, deepen suffering for millions of families, and offer tax cuts to wealthy Americans.
„In passing this bill, Congress is stripping lifesaving health care from millions of Americans to pay for an increasingly aggressive, dangerous, and obsessive deportation agenda“, Sarah Mehta, Deputy Director of Government Affairs, ACLU, said in a statement shared with Newsweek.
„With over $170 billion, ICE will become the largest law enforcement agency in the U.S., with a bigger budget than most of the world’s militaries. Armed with this funding, this administration will be able to multiply its violent raids and detain over 750,000 children, parents, and longtime residents in remote detention camps where, even now, people are dying.“
Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson, told Newsweek, „At this point, Newsweek is nothing more than a Democrat-propaganda outlet pumping out liberal press releases – how embarrassing. Every single one of these groups suffer from extreme cases of TDS. President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill protects and preserves Medicaid for vulnerable Americans who rely on it by eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in the program.
„The funding to secure our border and deport criminal illegal aliens is the fulfillment of President Trump’s campaign promise and the mandate the American people gave him when they sent him back to the White House.
