Breaking the I.C.E. on Immigration Enforcement and Federal Power

Doors open at 5:30 PM for a Member Happy Hour, and the program will begin at 6 PM. There will be a post-event discussion and reception.

The “Big Beautiful Bill” dedicated over $170 billion to immigration and border enforcement. As immigration enforcement expands, questions grow around the balance between national security and human rights. Join APS and the 2026 Student Ambassadors for a conversation about detention centers, ICE operations, and the growth of federal power. Featuring experts and those most affected by current policy, this Civics Education Initiative student-designed discussion will examine where to draw the line between immigration enforcement and liberty.

Sarah R. Saldaña is a former Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), where she led a $6 billion agency with 20,000 employees operating in the United States and 46 countries. Appointed in 2014, she oversaw enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and immigration.

Previously, Saldaña served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, leading an office of 200 employees and approximately 100 federal prosecutors. She was selected by Attorney General Eric Holder to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. Earlier, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Criminal Chief, she prosecuted cases involving fraud, civil rights, human trafficking, and public corruption.

A graduate of Southern Methodist University School of Law and Texas A&I University (summa cum laude), Saldaña now serves on several nonprofit boards focused on democracy, public policy, and opportunity.