Lateefah Simon sets priorities on abolishing ICE and reversing benefit work requirements

Rep. Lateefah Simon, who won another term representing Oakland in California in Congress, said she plans to push to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, reverse work requirements tied to some benefit programs, and direct funding to healthcare and research.

"I'm going to be very forceful, both in my organizing and in legislation that is presented, that we have to abolish ICE," Simon said in an interview conducted Wednesday, November 4, and published the following day.

She also wants to reverse work requirements "for mothers and other folks who have disabled children" as part of efforts to change the H.R. 1 budget law. She said addressing those requirements would need a precise legislative strategy.

Simon also named funding for healthcare initiatives and research in her district as priorities, pointing to her hopes for progress in curing sickle cell anemia and curtailing blindness.

Source: Eli Wolfe and Natalie Orenstein, Oaklandside, November 5, 2026.
https://oaklandside.org/2026/11/05/lee-bas-simon-blue-wave-oakland-2026/