Tag: Standing up for Civil and Human Rights

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Merkley Leads Sweeping Legislation to Counter Trump’s Authoritarian Takeover of U.S. and Defend Our Democracy

August 4, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley unveiled the For Our Republic Act, a comprehensive legislative package to fight back against President Trump’s aggressive authoritarian takeover of American democracy. The brand-new For Our Republic Act includes provisions to directly oppose Trump’s authoritarian playbook, including defending independent government watchdogs,

Wyden, Merkley Demand Civilian Protections, Greater Transparency for ICE Officers

July 20, 2026

Following killings in Maine and Texas, Oregon senators join colleagues calling for reforms, body-worn camera deployment, and independent investigations Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded stronger accountability measures for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers., urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to

Senators Markey, Merkley, Colleagues Sound the Alarm on Homeland Security Proposal to Develop Biometric Smart Glasses

May 14, 2026

Letter Text (PDF) Washington, D.C. – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today led their colleagues in writing to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin demanding the agency abandon its dangerous proposal, included in DHS’s proposed budget

Salinas, Merkley, Hoyle-Led Letter Forces ICE to Confirm: No Plans to Expand or Build ICE Detention Facilities in Oregon

March 27, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, in response to an inquiry led by U.S. Congresswomen Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Senator Jeff Merkley and signed by Senator Wyden and U.S. Congresswomen Bonamici, Dexter, and Bynum, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons confirmed that, “ICE is not

Merkley SLAMS Republican Voter Suppression Bill

March 17, 2026

Senator Merkley spoke out against the Republican SAVE America Act on the Senate floor on March 17, 2026.

Van Hollen, Merkley Press Lutnick for Answers on Epstein Ties

February 27, 2026

Letter follows Lutnick admission to Senator Van Hollen in Appropriations hearing that he lied about the extent and nature of his relationship with Epstein Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, and Senator Jeff

Merkley Condemns Hong Kong Court Sentencing Pro-Democracy Advocate’s Father

February 26, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and past Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)—issued a statement following the sentencing of Kwok Yin-sang, the father of U.S.-based activist Anna Kwok, who was put on trial in Hong Kong

Merkley Demands Independent Probe of Funds Used by ICE, CBP to Carry Out Trump’s Cruel Immigration Enforcement

February 25, 2026

DHS Yet to Provide Clear Accounting for Nearly $170 Billion from Trump’s Big, Ugly Betrayal Appropriated for Immigration Enforcement Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, led 20 of his Senate colleagues in calling on the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Wyden, Merkley, Dexter, Colleagues Demand Accountability for Israel’s Detention and Abuse of Palestinian-American Teenager Mohammed Ibrahim

February 20, 2026

This week marks one year since Israeli forces arrested and detained Mohammed Ibrahim, a U.S. citizen, for ten months Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter today joined Senate and House colleagues to demand accountability for the Israeli military’s nearly ten-month detention

Representative Salinas, Senator Merkley Host Press Conference Promoting ICE Accountability Legislation

February 13, 2026

Woodburn, OR – Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) held a joint press conference in Woodburn, OR, to share the stories of victims of ICE overreach and to promote their recently introduced bill, the ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act. Senator Merkley and Congresswoman Salinas were joined by