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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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Progressive Democrats have signaled opposition to an effort to avert a partial shutdown of the federal government, saying the newly released funding bill does not go far enough to reform U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Congressional negotiators on Tuesday released a roughly $1.2 trillion spending package intended to fund most of the federal government and avert a shutdown when temporary funding expires on January 30.
The measure bundles a dozen appropriations bills—that would fund the departments of Homeland Security, Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation and Labor—into a single text and is scheduled to move to the House for floor action this week.
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Newsweek contacted the offices of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both Democrats, on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Last year's full government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, began predominately over concerns about one topic: the extension of federal health care subsidies.
The shutdown caused widespread disruption, with about 700,000 federal employees working without pay, the government seeking to lay off thousands of workers, and funding for food stamps, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, delayed.
ICE has been under increased scrutiny after a series of high-profile shootings involving federal agents in Minneapolis, including the killing of U.S. citizen Renee Good.
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What To Know
The dispute comes less than two months after an extended shutdown last year, a reminder of the political stakes in funding votes. Lawmakers on both sides have argued that the new package seeks to avoid a repeat, but the homeland security section remains the clearest fault line inside the Democratic conference.
The spending package would provide about $10 billion in funding for ICE for the current fiscal year, with about $3.8 billion earmarked for detention and deportation operations, according to a summary from House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole's office. Lawmakers said the bill would reduce funding for enforcement and removal activities by $115 million while leaving the agency's total funding roughly unchanged.
Several lawmakers, including Representatives Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Lauren Underwood of Illinois and Senators Patty Murray of Washington and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland have posted statements on social media expressing reservations and urging leadership to consider stronger reforms before supporting the measure.
Appropriations leaders from both parties defended the deal as a pragmatic path to keep paychecks flowing and agencies open, and they argued that the bill includes more oversight than current law.
Republican leaders indicated they could advance the measure even if some Democrats withheld their votes, given the narrow Republican majority in the House. It remains to be seen whether Democratic objections will coalesce into a formal blockade, or whether leadership will persuade enough members that a partial compromise is preferable to risking another shutdown.
The negotiated spending bill would allocate $20 million for body cameras for immigration enforcement agents and officers and instruct DHS to standardize uniforms for domestic law enforcement except when agents are working undercover, while also capping detention funding and increasing transparency around DHS's use of funds provided under last year's tax and spending law. The bill would also require additional de‑escalation training for ICE and Customs and Border Protection agents operating in the interior along with instruction on the public's right to record interactions with federal agents.
What People Are Saying
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland wrote on X: "I've said repeatedly that I will not support one dime of funding for Trump's lawless ICE operations. The funding bill released today fails to sufficiently rein them in or ensure people's rights are protected. I'm voting NO."
Representative Pramila Jayapal, the ranking member of the Immigration, Integrity, Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, said in a news release: "While this DHS spending bill includes a handful of reporting requirements to the Appropriations Committee, as well as some funding for body cameras and inspections, it simply does not meet the moment we face in this country with the lawlessness of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents. I understand that this is due to the complete refusal of Republicans to hold this Administration accountable. However, without real accountability and guardrails, I simply cannot support this bill."
Mark Pinsley, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania's 7th District, told Newsweek: "I would certainly support deconstructing ICE."
Representative Rosa DeLauro, the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, said in a news release: "I understand that many of my Democratic colleagues may be dissatisfied with any bill that funds ICE. I share their frustration with the out-of-control agency. I encourage my colleagues to review the bill and determine what is best for their constituents and communities.
"The Homeland Security funding bill is more than just ICE. If we allow a lapse in funding, TSA agents will be forced to work without pay, FEMA assistance could be delayed, and the U.S. Coast Guard will be adversely affected. All while ICE continues functioning without any change in their operations due to $75 billion it received in the One Big Beautiful Bill. A continuing resolution will jettison the guardrails we have secured while ceding authority to President Trump, Stephen Miller, and Secretary Noem."
What Happens Next
Negotiations in the coming days will determine whether progressive objections result in a formal blockade or whether a compromise is reached to keep the government funded, thus avoiding another shutdown. If approved by both the House and Senate, the legislation—which merges four individual spending bills into a single "minibus" package—would complete Congress' efforts to prevent a government shutdown on January 30.
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