Chanting “care, not cages,” a coalition of local progressive groups rallied outside Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’ Bay Ridge office on May 18, accusing the Republican lawmaker of prioritizing billions in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies over health care programs facing deep cuts under the latest budget reconciliation proposal.
The demonstration came as lawmakers prepared to leave for a scheduled recess at the end of the week, with activists targeting what they said was a nearly $72 billion push to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice through the budget process.
