Yassamin Ansari

Ansari Introduces Legislation Establishing Clear 12-Hour Limit for ICE Detainee Stays in Temporary Holding Facilities | U.S. House Representative Yassamin Ansari

Position: Representatives Ansari, Stanton, and Grijalva introduced legislation to restore a 12-hour limit on detainee stays in ICE temporary holding facilities, require documentation and justification for extended detention, and strengthen oversight through recordkeeping and audits. The bill responds to observed overcrowding conditions at Mesa Gateway Airport's facility.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) introduced the Short-Term Holding Facilities Standards Restoration Act, alongside Representative Greg Stanton (AZ-04) and Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07).  The bill addresses overcrowding at temporary ICE holding facilities, such as Mesa Gateway Airport’s Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center (AROCC), and restores a clear 12-hour limit for detainee stays in ICE holding facilities. This follows the representatives’ unannounced visit to the temporary holding facility at Mesa Gateway Airport on April 9, where they observed significant overcrowding, with rooms holding 40 to 50 people, despite a posted maximum capacity of 21, for much longer than 12 hours on average. “What I’ve witnessed at the Mesa Gateway Airport short-term holding facility in Arizona is a display of disgusting cruelty. People are packed together like sardines in inhumane conditions and held far beyond the time these facilities are meant for,” said Rep. Ansari. “Our legislation places a 12-hour limit on short-term detention and brings transparency and accountability to these shocking facilities directed by Donald Trump and Stephen Miller.” Following the unannounced visit, the members sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons demanding answers about conditions for detainees. The bill restores the 12-hour limit, while allowing for limited exceptions in cases such as medical emergencies or transportation delays. In 2025, ICE issued a nationwide waiver allowing individuals to be held for up to 72 hours in these facilities, effectively tripling the permissible detention time. This bill addresses that concern. It also requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to document and justify any extended detention and to ensure humane conditions in holding facilities, thereby strengthening oversight by mandating recordkeeping, annual reporting to Congress, and periodic audits by the DHS Inspector General. “It’s clear that massive overcrowding and stays beyond the facility’s intended short-term holding period are standard operating procedure under Trump’s mass deportation agenda. This legislation brings these facilities back in line with their intended use,” said Rep. Stanton. “What we saw at AROCC wasn’t just overcrowding — it was a failure of basic humanity. No one should be forced to sleep on concrete floors, or share a toilet in full view of dozens of others, in confined spaces never meant for prolonged detention. This bill restores commonsense limits, strengthens oversight, and makes clear that humane treatment is not optional — it’s the law,” said Rep. Grijalva. Reports from the Arizona Mirror show that individuals held at the Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center (AROCC) are staying for longer periods of time and in larger populations. The average length of stay in 2026 is approximately 36 hours, compared to the same time frame in 2025, when detainees were held for about 12 hours on average. Full bill text available HERE.

Rep. Ansari, Senator Markey Demand Trump Admin Institute Protections for Iranian Nationals Residing in the United States | U.S. House Representative Yassamin Ansari

Position: Rep. Ansari and Senator Markey urge the Trump administration to pause deportation flights to Iran and designate Iranian nationals for temporary protected status (TPS) or deferred enforced departure (DED), citing humanitarian concerns and the country's current instability and human rights crisis.

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) wrote to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Todd Lyons, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Joseph Edlow, urging the Trump administration to immediately institute protections for Iranian nationals currently in the United States who cannot return home safely. The Islamic Republic of Iran’s brutal crackdown on nationwide protests earlier this year deepened the country’s already-dire human rights crisis, while the recent U.S. military attack has intensified the security situation. The lawmakers caution the Administration against forcibly returning Iranian families in the United States to Iran—where they face the dual threat of the regime’s humanitarian abuses and dangers a resumption of the war poses—and urge officials to pause deportation flights and designate Iranians for temporary protection, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). In the letter, the lawmakers write, “Having initiated the current war with Iran, the Trump administration bears a moral and humanitarian responsibility to provide Iranian nationals with an immediate shield from removal. For one, the Administration could heed prior calls by members of Congress to end deportation flights to Iran. Moreover, the Administration has the authority to designate Iran for TPS, a humanitarian designation that provides protection from removal for individuals from countries facing civil unrest, violence, or natural disasters.” The lawmakers request answers by May 6, 2026, to questions including: How does the Administration justify removing individuals to Iran at this time, given the State Department’s designation of the country as “Level 4: Do Not Travel”? Has the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of State taken any steps to evaluate whether Iran’s current conditions warrant a TPS or DED designation? Before the Administration began deportation flights to Tehran last year, what guarantees did the Islamic Republic regime provide to the United States that returned individuals—in particular, historically persecuted groups such as the LGBTQ+ community—would not face persecution, execution, or torture? Following its January 1, 2026, policy memo preventing routine immigration processing for Iranians, what justification does USCIS provide for maintaining this pause on benefit requests? Has USCIS taken into consideration events since January 1, 2026, including the Islamic Republic regime’s massacre of protesters or the U.S. attack on the country? What criteria is USCIS using to review anew any immigration benefits Iranian nationals received on or after January 20, 2021? Has USCIS complied with its 90-day timeline for issuing operational guidance and preparing a list of individuals for review, interview, re-interview and referral to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)? Follow @RepYassAnsari on all social media platforms and visit Ansari.House.gov to learn more.

Ansari Statement on Unfounded Attacks and Threats Against Family and Staff | U.S. House Representative Yassamin Ansari

WASHINGTON – Today, after more than 50 days of Donald Trump’s illegal war on Iran, Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) released the following statement regarding unfounded attacks and threats against her family and staff: “I fully condemn the hateful rhetoric, lies, cruel and deliberate misinformation, and threats that my family, my staff, and I have been subjected to since the Iran War began nearly 8 weeks ago. These coordinated attacks and threats have only continued to worsen, most recently after I introduced Articles of Impeachment against Pete Hegseth. This conduct has crossed the line into threats to our physical safety, which we have reported to law enforcement. “Bad actors have tried to smear my family and staff by circulating fake and AI-generated images and flat-out lying that my parents and I are not U.S. citizens. They have pushed xenophobic and sexist attacks and amplified absurd conspiracy theories about my family. They’ve even gone so far as to spread the outright lie that I am somehow tied to the regime. I will say this once and move on: these absurd allegations are entirely false and I denounce them in the strongest terms. “These attacks aren’t about truth; they’re the product of desperation from those trying to distract from a failing, illegal war, rising costs of living, and an administration with no coherent strategy while Americans pay the price at the pump. And while they spread lies, American service members are being put in harm’s way, with real casualties mounting in a war that lacks both justification and direction. “Let me reiterate, once again, that I have been unequivocal in my opposition to the brutal Islamic Republic regime, its repression of women, and its support for terrorism. My record on this issue is longstanding and crystal clear. My family has personally experienced the regime’s brutality. “It is in part why I am who I am today: A proud American speaking out for human rights and democracy, the rule of law, and, as a U.S. Congresswoman, the safety and security of Americans. It is also why I know the costs of freedom and stand firm against Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth’s illegal war. “As a public figure, I fully expect public criticism and wholly respect Americans' constitutional First Amendment rights to free speech. I understand the high emotions during such a tenuous time for those who have family in both Iran and the United States. But I will not tolerate direct threats levied against my loved ones and staff who did not sign up for the public spotlight. I also won’t be silent as they are targeted, doxxed, and attacked online. This has not been a good-faith policy debate. It is a coordinated effort to smear, intimidate, and silence, and it will not succeed. “My duty is clear: to uphold the Constitution of the United States and to faithfully serve the people of Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District. It is the honor of my life to represent the people of Arizona in Congress, over 75 percent of whom are deeply opposed to this war. I remain committed to doing so with integrity and transparency.”

Ansari Demands Answers from Trump Admin for Civilian Harm in Iran Military Operations | U.S. House Representative Yassamin Ansari

Position: Representative Ansari expresses concern about U.S. military operations in Iran between February 28 and April 7, 2026, alleging significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, and demands the Secretary of Defense provide clarity on targeting procedures and compliance with international humanitarian law.

WASHINGTON – Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding clarity on U.S. military actions between February 28, 2026, and April 7, 2026, which, according to independent monitoring by Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), have resulted in significant harm to civilian life and damage to civilian infrastructure. These actions, in addition to a series of wildly outrageous and threatening statements by President Trump and echoed across the administration, raise serious concerns about violations of domestic and international law. “Rhetoric that dismisses legal constraints on the use of force undermines civilian protections and signals a dangerous disregard for the laws governing armed conflict. The scale of attacks resulting in civilian harm, and the long-term reverberating effects on Iranian civilians raise serious concerns about the adequacy of civilian harm mitigation in targeting assessments. There must be investigations into how Iranian civilians were considered in U.S. military operations, where at least one in seven of those killed was a child,” according to Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA). Read the letter HERE and below. I write with urgent concern following U.S. military actions between February 28, 2026, and April 7, 2026, which, according to independent monitoring by Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRA), have resulted in significant harm to civilian life and damage to civilian infrastructure, namely the deaths of at least 1,701 civilians, including at least 254 children. There are at least 700 additional reported deaths under review. On February 28, 2026, the opening day of hostilities, U.S. strikes hit both a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, killing a reported 168 children and injuring 100 others, and a youth sports hall in Lamerd, killing 21 civilians, including 3 children, and injuring 110 others. Independent experts and monitoring groups have attributed both attacks to U.S. forces. The fact that these high-casualty incidents, involving clearly identifiable civilian objects, occurred on the first day of a campaign preceded by weeks, if not months, of intelligence gathering and target planning, raises serious concerns about U.S. targeting and precautionary measures and compliance with fundamental principles of the law of armed conflict. Minab marked the largest civilian death toll of any single U.S. attack since the Gulf War in 1991. Between February 28 and March 20, 2026, independent monitoring identified at least 12 incidents in which upwards of ten civilians were reportedly killed in a single strike. Given the limitations in the information environment, this figure is likely a significant undercount. HRA has documented military strikes and impact damage on hospitals, emergency medical facilities, primary schools, universities, water desalination plants, power plants, civilian airports, places of worship, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and countless densely populated residential areas. Several incidents investigated by HRA affecting schools resulted in the death or injury of students. In an incident on March 5, 2026, in Tehran, a nearby attack injured 56 people while they waited in line for bread. Another attack in Eastern Tehran on March 9, 2026, killed at least 20 civilians, including a child, as two twenty-unit residential apartment buildings collapsed from a missile strike. Furthermore, attacks on power stations disrupt services essential to the survival of the civilian population, as hospitals, water treatment facilities, and the food supply chain rely on electricity. Electricity failure will trigger cascading humanitarian consequences, including public health crises, outbreaks of infectious disease, the denial of care to the wounded and sick, and food insecurity. Iran has limited capacity to repair damaged infrastructure, meaning that disruptions to essential services are likely to persist for months, if not years. Such protracted damage deepens the reverberating effects on civilian life and will undermine pathways to recovery. The impact is exacerbated by the highly restrictive operating environment for humanitarian organizations, which severely limits their presence and ability to respond at scale. These events, in addition to a series of wildly outrageous and threatening statements by President Trump and echoed across the administration, raise serious concerns about violations of domestic and international law. Human rights organizations and legal experts have underscored that threats that “a whole civilization will die,” or calls for indiscriminate destruction, are unlawful because they disregard the fundamental principle of distinction between civilian and military targets and signal an intent wholly incompatible with the protection of civilian life. Notably, more than 200 leading human rights, humanitarian, civil liberties, faith-based, and environmental organizations and experts have issued a joint urgent statement in response to President Trump’s threatening rhetoric. The prohibition of such conduct is not new. President Abraham Lincoln commissioned the drafting of the Lieber Code in 1863 as one of the first modern codifications of the laws of war. It sought to regulate the conduct of U.S. forces, prohibiting wanton destruction and protecting civilian populations, grounded in the principle that even in war, military necessity must be balanced with humanity. The Trump administration’s recent statements and actions not only undermine such law, but depart from longstanding U.S. military doctrine and values that have, since the Lieber Code, affirmed the protection of civilians as a core principle in warfare. The administration’s lethal threats and conduct carry a significant risk for U.S. servicemembers of complicity in potential war crimes, as well as moral and psychological injury associated with causing civilian harm. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has identified exposure to morally injurious events as a risk factor for suicide, and an average of more than 17 veterans die by suicide each day. The U.S. Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan (CHMR-AP) specifically recognizes that battlefield “successes may ultimately end in strategic failure if care is not taken to protect the civilian environment.” Related resources have been severely defunded and deprioritized in the current administration, eroding the support and oversight capacity for civilian harm mitigation throughout Operation Epic Fury, meant to protect both civilians and U.S. military personnel. The administration’s threats and actions have moreover damaged our credibility and standing globally, undermining the moral clarity it has historically sought to project. The military assault unleashed and threatened against the Iranian civilian population has already sown the seeds of resentment and further radicalization, counter to US strategic priorities. In light of these developments, and statements by President Trump and the administration indicating the potential for widespread or total destruction, and consistent with Congress’s oversight responsibilities, I request immediate clarification on the following: What measures were taken by your department to ensure compliance with the laws of armed conflict, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution? What mechanisms are in place to track, assess, and publicly report civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure resulting from U.S. strikes in Iran? How does the Department reconcile public claims that it does not target civilians or civilian infrastructure with emerging reports suggesting otherwise? How does the Department reconcile the credible reports regarding the incident in Lamerd on February 28, where multiple weapons experts, including former US military personnel, have identified a U.S. Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) as responsible for the strike? How does the Department plan to take accountability, including through amends for victims, for the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure resulting from its operations, particularly in light of credible reports of extensive damage to residential homes and the loss of civilian life? I request a response no later than May 2, 2026.

Rep. Ansari Files Formal Articles of Impeachment Against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth | U.S. House Representative Yassamin Ansari

Position: Rep. Ansari filed Articles of Impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, alleging violations of his oath of office including unauthorized military action against Iran, disclosure of classified information, targeting of civilians, obstruction of congressional oversight, and abuse of power.

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) filed Articles of Impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for repeatedly violating his oath of office and his duty to the Constitution. “Pete Hegseth broke his oath to the Constitution, put U.S. troops at grave risk through the unauthorized disclosure of classified information, engaged in abuse of office and conduct beneath the dignity of his office, and carried out unlawful military actions despite his obligation to refuse—including strikes on civilians and a girls’ school in Minab, Iran. Hegseth’s conduct meets the threshold of high crimes and misdemeanors and warrants immediate removal by Congress,” said Rep. Ansari. “As the daughter of Iranian immigrants and as someone who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, I know this absolutely cannot continue. The stakes for U.S. servicemembers and our national security, the Iranian people and innocent civilians everywhere, and global stability are too high to ignore.” Ansari’s articles of impeachment are cosponsored by Representatives Sarah McBride (DE), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Al Green (TX-09), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Dina Titus (NV-01), Dave Min (CA-47), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), and John Larson (CT-01). The legislation is endorsed by MoveOn, Indivisible, Foreign Policy 4 America (FP4A), Win Without War, Common Defense, and Center for International Policy. The Articles of Impeachment Against Peter B. Hegseth Are as follows: ARTICLE 1: UNAUTHORIZED WAR AGAINST IRAN AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OF UNITED STATES SERVICEMEMBERS= ARTICLE II: VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW OF ARMED CONFLICT AND TARGETING OF CIVILIANS ARTICLE III: NEGLIGENCE AND RECKLESS HANDLING OF SENSITIVE MILITARY INFORMATION ARTICLE IV: OBSTRUCTION OF CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT ARTICLE V: ABUSE OF POWER AND POLITICIZATION OF THE ARMED FORCES ARTICLE VI: CONDUCT BRINGING DISREPUTE UPON THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ARMED FORCES

Ansari, Stanton, Grijalva Demand Answers from ICE, DHS on Mesa Gateway Facility Conditions | U.S. House Representative Yassamin Ansari

Position: The representatives express concern about overcrowding and inhumane conditions at an ICE detention facility in Arizona, arguing that current conditions violate detention standards and constitutional protections, and demand accountability from DHS and ICE leadership.

PHOENIX – After a “shocking” oversight visit to the Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center at Mesa Gateway Airport, U.S. Representatives Yasamin Ansari (AZ-03), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), and Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Todd Lyons demanding answers about conditions for detainees. “Upon entering the facility, we were shown the concrete cells where individuals are being held for 72 hours or more before their subsequent departure. Detainees were packed together tightly, with no access to beds and sleeping on a concrete floor. We observed rooms labeled for a capacity of 21 individuals holding approximately 40 to 50 people, crammed at densities that prevented individuals from sitting, lying down, or moving freely, forcing many to sleep on concrete floors without bedding,” the members wrote. “We are gravely concerned that ICE is using this facility in a manner that is grossly in excess of its intended design and safeguards. These conditions appear inconsistent with ICE’s own Performance-Based National Detention Standards (PBNDS) and raise concerns under federal detention requirements and constitutional protections,” they continue. The full letter can be found here. Video from the media availability last night can be found here. U.S. Reps. Ansari and Stanton previously conducted an oversight visit of the facility in February.

Rep. Ansari Statement On Temporary U.S.-Iran Ceasefire | U.S. House Representative Yassamin Ansari

Position: Rep. Ansari opposes the Trump administration's military actions in Iran and the broader regional conflict, characterizing them as unauthorized, unconstitutional, and involving war crimes. She calls for Trump and Hegseth's removal from office and demands passage of a bipartisan War Powers Resolution to prevent resumption of hostilities.

PHOENIX – Today, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) released the following statement on the temporary U.S.-Iran Ceasefire: “I am momentarily relieved for the 90 million Iranians who just spent the worst 24 hours of their lives thinking they were about to face nothing short of a nuclear catastrophe—not the regime, but innocent civilians who have nothing to do with their government, and long for freedom. I’m also relieved for the American servicemembers who would have been placed in even graver danger and ordered to carry out war crimes. “But this doesn’t change anything. Donald Trump threatened genocide and war crimes against Iranians this morning. His statements that “a whole civilization will die” and that he’ll take Iran “back to the stone ages” confirm that he is mentally unstable, unhinged, and unfit for office or any position of authority. “It’s now day 39 of Trump’s illegal regional war that has had deadly and catastrophic consequences. There has been no clear plan or rationale, no strategy, and no Congressional authorization or input as required by the Constitution. Thousands of civilians have been tragically killed across the region, American servicemembers have died and suffered unnecessarily, and millions are displaced from Lebanon to the Gulf. Trump and Pete Hegseth have already committed explicit war crimes by bombing schools, hospitals, bridges, and water desalination plants. “This isn’t partisan. Republicans, Democrats, and independents are waking up. Whether through impeachment or by invoking the 25th Amendment, it is far past time Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth are removed from office. Cabinet officials like JD Vance will be forever tied to this war if they do nothing. We need urgent action for the sake of our national security and the safety and security of the rest of the world. “I’m also demanding that Mike Johnson immediately call the House back into session so we can pass the bipartisan War Powers Resolution and ensure that Trump and Hegseth can never again resume this disastrous war. “I pray this ceasefire holds, and I pray for peace and freedom for the Iranian people.”

ICYMI: Reps. Ansari and Grijalva Hold Community Oversight Briefing on Mass Detention Centers | U.S. House Representative Yassamin Ansari

Position: Representatives Ansari and Grijalva oppose current ICE detention and deportation policies under the Trump administration. They call for ICE accountability, oppose additional ICE funding, and advocate for immigration reform centered on humanitarian principles rather than enforcement-focused approaches.

PHOENIX – Last week, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), alongside Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), hosted a community briefing in Central Phoenix titled “Stop Mass Detention Centers: An Arizona Community Oversight Briefing.” The briefing included members of the community who have been directly affected by President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policies, who shared their personal experiences and the profound impact these policies have had on their lives. The Representatives also provided an update on the current conditions of detention centers across Arizona and highlighted their ongoing oversight efforts to address inhumane conditions and strengthen accountability. “It’s clear that ICE needs to be abolished. The Trump regime has turned it into its own paramilitary force that it’s using to terrorize communities and families all across the United States,” said Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03). “My heart goes out to everyone who has been harmed by Trump’s cruel mass detention policies. Our fight isn’t over. In me, you have a promise that I WILL NOT support any additional funding for ICE, and I will continue fighting against these cruel policies until ICE is held fully accountable. ICE has no place in our communities.” “What we've heard today is a call to action, a reminder that behind every statistic is a human being, a mother, a father, an abuela, a neighbor,” said Rep. Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07). “We cannot normalize a system where people are detained without dignity, where medical neglect becomes fatal and where corporations are profiting from human suffering. We will continue demanding transparency and accountability, and we will continue fighting for an immigration system rooted in humanity, fairness and justice.” “The American people across party lines are demanding that we rein in ICE – that's why myself and Congresswoman Ansari and Congresswoman Grijalva continue to vote no on further ICE funding. The people want common sense immigration reform, reform that is orderly and fair, not quotas set up by Stephen Miller, not warehouse detention centers. We're going to continue fighting to push back against this administration and the reckless enforcement policies,” said Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04). “What happened to my brother was tragic. What happened to my brother was inhumane. Denying his family access to see him until it was the last minute, the last 24 hours was wrong. While he was in a hospital bed for 10 days, all by himself. That was wrong. He had a family. Who loved him and would be happy to travel and be there with him. Thank you for supporting us to mobilize for this to happen and we need changes, we need big change in our system. Next time if somebody is sick in an ICE facility–the detention facility–the first thing they need to do is reach out to the family–communicate with the family. Allow the family to have access to the medical staff so they can communicate and know what’s going on. A toothache should not kill,” said Presly Nelson, Emmanuel Damas’ brother. “For the past year, I have been fighting to ensure that Arbella “Yari” Marquez receives the medical care she needs while in detention. We demand her medical release immediately. Whatever it takes. Let us get her back to health so she can continue to fight her immigration case,” said Sonia Almaraz, partner to Yari Marquez and AZ-03 resident. “I am bracing my family to move to Trinidad and Tobago because we would rather live abroad than stay in a country that would reject a veteran who had been prepared to give his life serving it,” said Tanisha Hartwell-Parris, wife of Marlon Parris, deported veteran and AZ-03 resident. “I am here as a reflection of what our immigration system looks like. Fifteen years ago, I was labeled an ‘illegal immigrant’ and detained by ICE for over two months. Conditions in these facilities have only worsened since. DACA changed my life—it allowed me to earn a journalism degree, build a career as Communications Director at GreenLatinos, and marry my soulmate, Carly. Yet today, despite doing everything right, I still cannot move forward,” said Edder Martinez, formally detained AZ-03 resident and DACA recipient. “I am a Colombian woman. I am a lesbian. I was treated like a criminal, even though I committed no crime. I came to this country seeking protection. And I was granted it. A judge decided that it was not safe for me to return to my country. And still I was kept locked inside the Eloy Detention Center for 15 months. Inside that place, my body began to break down. Eloy is not a place of safety. It is a place where abuse happens, where injustice becomes normal,” said Mariana, formally detained AZ-07 resident. Follow @RepYassAnsari on all social media platforms and visit Ansari.House.gov to learn more.

Rep. Ansari: Impeach Pete Hegseth | U.S. House Representative Yassamin Ansari

Position: Representative Ansari calls for the impeachment of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, alleging violations of his oath of office, unauthorized military actions, and war crimes including attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran. She argues that only Congress has constitutional authority to declare war and that the President's military actions violate U.S. law and the Geneva Convention.

WASHINGTON – Today, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) announced her intent to introduce Articles of Impeachment against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth: “Donald Trump’s deranged statements – including one on Easter Sunday – are further entrenching our country and our world in another devastating, never-ending war. He’s threatening war crimes that violate U.S. law and the Geneva Convention, on top of illegal actions and atrocities already committed at his direction–including violence that has destroyed schools, hospitals, and critical civilian infrastructure. Republicans must join us in calling on the president to end this suicidal war before it is too late. So much is at stake, and those who continue to follow him blindly will have blood on their hands as well. “As the daughter of Iranian immigrants who fled this regime, and as an American Congresswoman who swore an oath to the United States Constitution, I know that this cannot go on. The 25th Amendment exists for a reason; his Cabinet should use it. The fate of U.S. troops, the Iranian people, and the very foundation of our global system are at stake. “That’s why, next week, I am introducing Articles of Impeachment against Pete Hegseth for repeatedly violating his oath of office and his duty to the Constitution. Only Congress has the power to declare war, not a rogue president or his lackeys. Hegseth’s reckless endangerment of U.S. servicemembers and repeated war crimes, including bombing a girls’ school in Minab, Iran and willfully targeting civilian infrastructure, are grounds for impeachment and removal from office.”

Ansari Introduces Legislative Package that Finally Recognizes Women’s Pain | U.S. House Representative Yassamin Ansari

Position: Representative Ansari introduced a legislative package addressing women's healthcare gaps, including paid leave for reproductive health conditions, research on gynecological pain management, and funding for premenstrual dysphoric disorder research and awareness.

WASHINGTON – On the final day of Women’s History Month, Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), the youngest woman in Congress, introduced the Health, Equity, and Rights (HER) Agenda, a legislative package aimed at addressing longstanding gaps and inequities in women’s healthcare, with a focus on autonomy, pain management, and workplace protections. “I have passed out because of period pain. Even now, every month, I have days where it feels like barbed wire is tightening inside me. I’ve taken 2,000 milligrams of ibuprofen in 24 hours and still been in tears from the pain. I often end up on the bathroom floor, in the fetal position, crying, moaning, or vomiting. Still, I’ve put on a blazer and gone to work,” Rep. Ansari wrote in a recent op-ed. “I may be the youngest woman serving in Congress, but this pain is older than me, older than my mother, older than my grandmothers. They endured it in silence. Future generations shouldn’t have to. When we start speaking honestly about this pain, and when we finally pass policies that recognize it, we can change what’s possible for every generation that comes after us.” Read Ansari’s full op-ed in TIME here. The Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act. This first-of-its-kind legislation would provide 12 days of paid leave for symptoms related to reproductive health conditions and procedures, including but not limited to menstrual pain, menopause, endometriosis, IUD insertion, pregnancy terminations, vasectomies, and fertility treatments. Why it’s needed: In a 2019 study, 13.8% of women respondents reported absenteeism during menstruation and 80.7% reported presenteeism (the act of showing up for work or school without being productive). In another study, 65% of respondents in menopause reported work performance impacts, and 18% had taken sick leave. This bill ensures workers don’t have to face losing income or relying on limited sick days. The Gynecological Pain Management Study Act. Ansari’s bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to more precisely identify the barriers to pain management options during and after gynecologic procedures, including IUD insertion, endometrial biopsies, and cancer screenings. It would also require the report to include legislative or administrative recommendations to close those gaps. Why it’s needed: Last year, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) released new guidelines for pain management in gynecological procedures, citing an “urgent need.” Despite evidence-based pain management options for procedures like IUD insertion being available, countless patients have cited only being offered ibuprofen. The Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) Awareness and Research Act. Ansari’s bill would direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research and provide educational materials on PMDD and to fund clinical trials on potential treatments. Why it’s needed: PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that affects an estimated 3.2% to 7.7% of women of reproductive age. PMDD has been shown to cause severe symptoms of anger, irritability, depression, and anxiety, as well as a significant increase in suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Despite the intensity of PMDD, it often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder due to a lack of awareness in both medical professionals and patients. A resolution acknowledging the history of women’s healthcare denying patient bodily autonomy and how that legacy continues in the field of gynecology and medicine today. The resolution highlights the need to turn the page on systemic reproductive injustice and commit to centering women’s comfort and health priorities in their medical care. SUPPORT FOR ANSARI’S HER AGENDA The Reproductive Healthcare Leave Act is cosponsored by Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Troy Carter (LA-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24). It is endorsed by Women’s Health Advocates, the National Organization for Women, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Care in Action, Reproductive Freedom for All, the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and the Democratic Women’s Caucus. The Gynecological Pain Management Study Act is cosponsored by Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Troy Carter (LA-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24). It is endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Women’s Health Advocates, Society for Women's Health Research, National Organization for Women, Reproductive Freedom for All, the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and the Democratic Women’s Caucus. The PMDD Awareness and Research Act is cosponsored by Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Troy Carter (LA-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24). It is endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Women’s Health Advocates, Society for Women's Health Research, National Organization for Women, Reproductive Freedom for All, the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and the Democratic Women’s Caucus. The resolution is cosponsored by Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Troy Carter (LA-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Frederica Wilson (FL-24). It is endorsed by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Women’s Health Advocates, National Organization for Women, Reproductive Freedom for All, the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, and the Democratic Women’s Caucus. “Women’s pain has been treated as an inconvenience rather than a clinical priority. From endometriosis to IUD insertions, women are routinely told to ‘tough it out’ while their quality of life suffers. NOW proudly supports the HER Agenda because it moves the conversation beyond procedures to the fundamental right to dignified, painless healthcare. We are done being gaslit in the exam room,” said National NOW President Kim Villanuevas. “For too long, people have walked out of their doctor’s office or the emergency room without answers, without treatment, and without relief—especially women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, and immigrants. This legislation is a step towards addressing the systemic barriers that prevent patients from getting the care they deserve. As we fight against the many ongoing efforts to defund healthcare and take away bodily autonomy, we support Congresswoman Ansari’s leadership on these bills and the patients who will benefit from them,” said Mini Timmaraju, Reproductive Freedom for All President and CEO. “Everyone, everywhere deserves to have access to the full spectrum of sexual and reproductive care to ensure that patients can make personal medical decisions that are right for them and their loved ones. We’re grateful to Rep. Ansari for championing reproductive health and highlighting the need for recognition and research into these issues, especially as the Trump administration continues to attack health care at the expense of patients. Planned Parenthood Federation of America will not stop fighting until all people have access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health care,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.