Congresswoman Ansari on rural heathcare & immigration issues

Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari has been one of the lawmakers advocating for full Rural Health Transformation Program funding to enhance healthcare access in rural communities. She also drew the ire of Representative Virginia Foxx when she welcomed her back from a “taxpayer-funded vacation,” following the government shutdown. Moreover, she visited an ICE detention center in Eloy in September, a month after she was reportedly denied access.

Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss more on these timely topics.

Ansari recently helped launch a new tracking system led by House Oversight Committee Democrats to collect and document allegations of misconduct by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

She said the tool is designed as a centralized repository where individuals nationwide can report racial profiling, unlawful detention, assault, or other alleged abuses tied to ICE operations.

Across the country, she said, she is hearing increasingly alarming stories.

“We heard from a U.S. citizen wrongfully detained by ICE, labor union members detained, and even a lawyer deported to El Salvador,” Ansari said. “Anyone who has experienced misconduct can submit information, and our Oversight team will verify and investigate.”

Ansari, who visited an ICE detention center in Eloy in September after previously being denied access, said that what she witnessed reinforced her concerns. She described ICE under the Trump administration as a “rogue agency,” arguing that trust has eroded amid reports of masked officers “breaking laws every single day.”

While she avoided using the phrase “abolish ICE,” she said reforms must be profound. “In a post-Trump world, we need legal pathways to immigration,” she said. “Most people detained in these centers have no criminal record whatsoever.”

She also defended her sharp exchange with Rep. Virginia Foxx, after Foxx called her criticism of Republicans “beyond embarrassing.” Ansari said it’s essential to call out abuses of power, especially amid what she described as attempts to silence critics, including investigations targeting Sen. Mark Kelly.

“That’s an egregious effort to go after political enemies,” she said. “Senator Kelly is a hero. These tactics won’t work.”

On the federal shutdown and healthcare negotiations, Ansari said the fight for more affordable coverage was necessary. She noted that Republicans have offered “no real plan” to address rising premiums and said she is open to extension proposals but wants comprehensive solutions, not temporary fixes.

“I don’t want people to suffer,” she said. “But we need a real, long-term plan. My constituents deserve that.”

Ansari said her focus, whether on healthcare, immigration, or oversight, is shaped by the needs of Arizonans she meets daily.

“Every American agrees we need a secure border,” she said. “But we also need humanity, accountability, and real solutions. That’s what I’m fighting for.”