Rep. Derek Tran cast a no vote on the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026, citing concerns about federal funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. He said he would not allow tax dollars to fund what he called "reckless ICE enforcement operations."
Days later, his office announced more than $5 million in federally funded projects for communities across the CA-45 district.
The announcement — covered favorably in local outlets — promoted funding for infrastructure repairs in Cerritos ($3 million), library upgrades in Buena Park ($850,000), public safety initiatives through the Orange County HOPE Center ($1 million), and pedestrian improvements in Placentia's Old Town ($250,000). Tran's office described the funding as money he "secured" for local residents.
The projects were funded through the federal Community Project Funding program and incorporated into the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, H.R. 7148, which passed the House on February 23, 2026. The legislation bundled funding across multiple federal agencies — including the same DHS appropriations framework Tran voted against.
The Vote
On March 5, 2026, Tran issued a statement announcing his vote against H.R. 7744, the DHS Appropriations Act of 2026, which passed 221-209. In it, he said:
"I won't let our tax dollars be used to create chaos in our streets."
His stated objection was the bill's funding of ICE and CBP without what he described as sufficient accountability measures, oversight reforms, or protections against unlawful detention of U.S. citizens.
The bill passed without him. The money flowed to his district. And his office held events to hand out the checks.
The Pattern
His Republican challengers have taken notice. In a primary field already questioning whether Tran is sufficiently present in the district — including pointed criticism about his absence from community events in Little Saigon — the vote-and-claim sequence hands them a ready-made line of attack heading into the June 2 primary.
Tran's office has not responded to questions about the apparent contradiction between his no vote and his subsequent announcement of the funded projects.