Democratic leaders are rejecting a White House proposal tied to immigration enforcement, describing it as lacking substance and warning they could block funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless significant policy changes are introduced.
In a joint statement released late Monday, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed the administration’s counteroffer to their weekend demands, saying it failed to provide meaningful detail or legal clarity. According to the pair, the proposal “included neither details nor legislative text” and does not address “the concerns Americans have about ICE’s lawless conduct.” The White House has not made the proposal public.
The standoff is unfolding as lawmakers face a looming deadline, with a partial government shutdown scheduled to begin Saturday if an agreement is not reached. Democrats are pressing for sweeping changes to immigration enforcement, including judicial warrant requirements, clearer identification standards for DHS personnel, revised use-of-force guidelines and an end to racial profiling. They argue that such reforms became urgent after federal agents fatally shot two protesters in Minneapolis last month.
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Earlier in the day, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., struck a more hopeful tone regarding the negotiations between Democratic leaders and the White House, calling the talks productive.
Thune described the exchange of proposals as encouraging and said “hopefully they can find some common ground here.”
Despite the cautious optimism, bridging the gap on immigration enforcement remains challenging. Lawmakers from both parties have voiced doubts about whether consensus is possible.
Republicans have largely resisted the Democratic push for stricter oversight, while advancing priorities of their own. Some GOP lawmakers are seeking provisions that would require proof of citizenship during voter registration and impose penalties on cities they claim are failing to enforce immigration laws aggressively.
Within Democratic ranks, frustration over the recent surge in Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations has hardened opposition to approving further DHS funding unless enforcement practices are scaled back dramatically.
“Dramatic changes are needed at the Department of Homeland Security before a DHS funding bill moves forward,” Jeffries said earlier Monday. “Period. Full stop.”
Congress reopened negotiations on the DHS budget after Trump accepted a Democratic request to separate homeland security funding from a broader government spending bill enacted last week. That legislation temporarily maintains DHS funding at existing levels until Feb. 13, giving lawmakers limited time to resolve the dispute and debate new restrictions targeting ICE and other federal enforcement agencies.
Democrats intensified their calls for reform following two fatal incidents involving federal officers. ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 24, while Renee Good was shot by ICE agents on Jan. 7. The cases have fueled Democratic arguments that oversight and accountability must be strengthened, and some Republicans have acknowledged that certain policy adjustments may be necessary.
Although Trump agreed to separate the funding measure, he has not publicly addressed the Democrats’ detailed list of demands.
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated last week that the administration is open to negotiating selected items but drew a firm line against others, saying they “don’t seem like they are grounded in any common sense, and they are nonstarters for this administration.”
Among their proposals, Schumer and Jeffries want federal immigration officers to remove face coverings, visibly display identification and increase coordination with local law enforcement. Their demands also include stricter use-of-force rules, expanded legal protections within detention facilities and a ban on using body cameras to monitor protesters.
Democrats are also calling for measures to prevent mass or indiscriminate arrests. They want Congress to “improve warrant procedures and standards,” clearly establish that officers cannot enter private property without a judicial warrant and require confirmation of citizenship status before an individual is detained.
Republicans have expressed support for mandating body cameras for DHS personnel, a requirement included in earlier drafts of the funding legislation. However, they remain strongly opposed to several other proposals advanced by Democrats.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., defended keeping face coverings for ICE personnel, arguing that removing them would place officers and their families at risk.
“Taking the masks off ICE officers and agents, the reason we can’t do that is that it would subject them to great harm, their families at great risk because people are doxing them and targeting them,” Johnson said Monday. “We’ve got to talk about things that are reasonable and achievable.”
Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty also criticized Democratic demands during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” accusing the party of appealing to its political base.
“The left has gone completely overboard, and they’re threatening the safety and security of our agents so they cannot do their job,” Hagerty said.
Apart from immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the DHS budget also funds the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Transportation Security Administration. Thune warned last week that a shutdown could disrupt travel operations, similar to the 43-day federal closure last year.
Some lawmakers from both parties have floated the possibility of separating funding for ICE and Border Patrol from the rest of DHS operations and passing the remaining budget by Friday. Thune has been hesitant about that option, instead favoring another short-term funding extension while negotiations continue.
“If there’s additional time that’s needed, then hopefully Democrats would be amenable to another extension,” Thune said.
Democratic leaders have signaled that support for another temporary measure is unlikely, though Republicans may still secure limited Democratic backing if negotiations show tangible progress.
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“The ball is in the Republicans’ court,” Jeffries said Monday, according to the AP.
