Democrats in the Senate attempted to restrict or condition funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement during negotiations over a Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, but their efforts have fallen short.
Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July, allocating approximately $170 billion for immigration enforcement and border security, including $75 billion specifically for ICE. Despite tensions following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and intensive care nurse, by a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis over the weekend, ICE and Customs and Border Protection operations are set to continue even if parts of the federal government shut down.
The issue has ignited fierce debate over the role of federal immigration enforcement in American communities.
As reported by The Daily Mail, ICE is now one of the most heavily funded federal law enforcement agencies, with about $18.7 billion annually for four years under the recent legislation. Even without an additional $10 billion appropriation, ICE would still operate with 87% more funding than the previous year, thanks to carryover funds from Trump-backed appropriations.
ICE agents are classified as “excepted” workers, meaning their operations won’t grind to a halt during a government shutdown.
On January 24, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declared that Democrats would withhold votes on the DHS funding measure unless revisions were made. “What’s happening in Minnesota is appalling—and unacceptable in any American city,” Schumer stated. His rhetoric paints a grim picture, but it sidesteps the reality that ICE’s mission isn’t just about one tragic incident—it’s about a broader mandate that many Americans still support.
The death of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis has intensified scrutiny of ICE and CBP operations across the country.
Texas Representative Greg Casar has been vocal, urging Senate Democrats since January 13 to demand reforms before backing any major spending bill. He’s called for federal agents to pull back from Minneapolis and for independent investigations into deaths involving federal personnel.
Senate Democrats have doubled down, claiming the DHS bill overreaches on immigration enforcement and needs policy adjustments. But Republicans aren’t budging, refusing to separate DHS funding from the broader spending package. This standoff leaves little room for compromise as essential services hang in the balance.
The DHS bill isn’t just about ICE—it also funds the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) while 12 states grapple with disaster declarations.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune pointed out the hypocrisy in the Democratic stance. “Democrats themselves have said for weeks that ICE would still continue its operations during a shutdown,” the spokesperson noted.
The same spokesperson highlighted the broader stakes: FEMA and TSA are at risk if Democrats keep pushing for policy changes over funding. Holding disaster relief and airport security hostage to score points on immigration reform feels like a misstep, especially when communities are already reeling from storms and travel chaos.
Late Sunday, the White House and Republicans reached out to Senate Democrats, but no viable solutions emerged, according to a PBS News report citing an anonymous Senate Democratic aide.
Democrats’ frustration is palpable, yet their strategy seems disconnected from the reality on the ground. ICE and CBP remain funded as “essential” agencies through carryover appropriations, meaning their work continues unabated.
Pushing for reforms now, when the funding is already locked in, feels more like theater than governance.
