Republican leader attacks MoveOn over ICE

On Thursday, the Senate Republican Leader attacked MoveOn over ICE.

Dear MoveOn member, On Thursday, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune revealed exactly what he thinks of us. He dismissed Democrats' demands to rein in ICE, claiming they only included them "to satisfy MoveOn or some of their left wing special interest groups."1 He just gave us the perfect opening to prove him wrong—with your help. Here's the situation: Right now, Congress is deciding whether to hand Trump billions more dollars for his deportation machine—or finally rein in ICE. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security runs out on February 13. That gives us one week. Democrats have real leverage to force a partial shutdown, and they've laid out their demands, including an end to warrantless arrests, protections for schools, churches, and hospitals, mandating ICE officers unmask, and independent investigations into ICE abuses.2 But they'll hold the line only if they know we have their backs. Right-wing media is in full attack mode. And some Democrats are getting very nervous about standing firm. If we can raise the money this weekend, we'll launch mobile billboards early next week in Senator Thune's backyard in South Dakota and in Washington, D.C., to make it crystal clear what Thune and his colleagues are refusing to support: keeping ICE out of schools and churches, requiring warrants for arrests, and stopping racial profiling. Will you start a monthly donation of $5 to help us put up mobile billboards in South Dakota and D.C., while powering all of MoveOn's urgent and ongoing organizing to pressure Democrats to hold the line and get ICE out of our neighborhoods? Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. This is the moment when movements either break through or break apart. When the pressure gets intense, politicians look to see how closely people are still watching and how hard people will continue to fight. We need to show them we're not going anywhere. Over the past two weeks alone, MoveOn members have forced the NFL to affirm that there will be no ICE enforcement operations at the Super Bowl.3 We've flooded congressional offices with calls and letters. We've put real and sustained pressure on Congress. More than 250 MoveOn members have already signed up to visit their representatives' district offices next week to demand a NO vote on the Department of Homeland Security's budget. The American people are on our side—by huge margins.4 But public opinion matters only if we turn it into political pressure. With your support, MoveOn will: Launch mobile billboards in South Dakota and Washington, D.C., to hold Thune and Senate Republicans accountable. Coordinate with allied organizations to organize district office visits demanding a NO vote on any more ICE funding. Keep coordinating protests and vigils across the country to keep ICE's abuses in the spotlight. Amplify the pressure on every wavering member of Congress. None of this happens without grassroots support. Every dollar you give directly funds the organizing that's helping to stop ICE's terror. We have one week to make sure every Democrat in Congress knows their constituents expect them to hold firm. One week to prove that backing down will cost them more than standing strong. One week to show that this movement isn't fading—it's growing. Republicans are betting Democrats will cave. Trump is counting on the pressure breaking us. And Thune thinks he can dismiss millions of people—MoveOn members like you—as irrelevant. Not everyone can afford to give, but if you can, please chip in $5 a month to prove them all wrong—and urgently and steadfastly protect our neighbors and communities. Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. We've already shown what's possible when we refuse to back down. Now let's finish what we started and drive ICE out of our neighborhoods. Thanks for all you do. –Mia, Jaira, Aliya, Kelsey, and the rest of the team P.S. The deadline is February 13—just one week away. If you've been waiting for the right moment to give to help stop ICE's terror, this is it. Donate $5 a month to help MoveOn put up billboards this weekend and then keep up the organizing, for as long as it takes. Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month. (If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately.) No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation. Sources: 1. Post on X by Bill Melugin, February 5, 2026 https://x.com/billmelugin_/status/2019431486307406008?s=46 2. "Democrats' 10 demands to 'rein in' ICE – the full list of proposed reforms," The Guardian, February 5, 2026 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/05/democrats-ice-reforms-funding-bill 3. "NFL says no ICE enforcement at Super Bowl LX events," KPIX YouTube, February 4, 2026 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S_EHFCVhQU 4. "What Americans actually want done about ICE," Strength In Numbers, February 6, 2026 https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/what-americans-actually-want-done Want to support MoveOn's work? Donald Trump's authoritarian takeover intensifies every day. But we must remember that authoritarian governments worldwide have not withstood a challenge by 3.5% or more of its people. MoveOn can reach, train, organize, and support at a scale unparalleled in the progressive movement—which we need now more than ever. Will you make a monthly donation today to power this urgent and critical organizing? If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: Donate: $5 monthly Donate: $15 monthly Donate: $50 monthly Donate another amount monthly Or make a one-time gift Contributions to MoveOn Civic Action are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes. MoveOn.org Civic Action - PO Box 96141, Washington, D.C. 20090-6141. ActBlue Civics Inc. is the merchant of record for all transactions made to MoveOn Civic Action using the ActBlue platform. ActBlue Civics Inc. receives and processes these donations before disbursing them to MoveOn Civic Action within 30 days of receipt. This email was sent to Andra Patterson on February 08, 2026. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. MoveOn's privacy policy was recently updated. To read our new privacy policy, click here. To remove yourself from this list, unsubscribe. 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