House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) remained steadfast that Democrats will not support any funding measure for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unless Republicans agree to major reforms to immigration enforcement.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Jeffries was asked whether he would allow Democrats to support a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to keep DHS funded and avert a partial government shutdown while negotiations continue. Jeffries dismissed the idea, stating that the department under Secretary Kristi Noem must implement sweeping reforms.
“ICE is out of control right now,” Jeffries said. “The American people know it, and ICE clearly needs to be reined in. Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, not brutalize and kill American citizens.”
“Our position has been clear,” Jeffries added. “Dramatic changes are needed at the Department of Homeland Security before a DHS funding bill moves forward. Period. Full stop.”
Jeffries Calls For ‘Dramatic’ Changes To Take Place In The DHS
Jeffries’ comments come before the House Homeland Security Committee’s oversight hearing on Tuesday with the heads of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). When asked by a reporter about what he wants to hear from the officials, Jeffries said the administration should openly apologize for spending taxpayer dollars to inflict “wicked brutality” on the American people, citing the recent murders of Renée Good and Alex Pretti.
Jeffries called out the Trump administration for breaking their promise to focus immigration enforcement on violent felons and instead targeting law-abiding immigrant families and even American citizens.
“The American people know that ICE is completely and totally out of control,” Jeffries said. “They’ve gone too far and need to be reined in.”
Jeffries laid out a series of policy demands Democrats want implemented before they will consider supporting a DHS funding bill. Those include mandatory body cameras for federal agents, judicial warrant requirements, a ban on masks, no more racial profiling, and an end to roving patrols. He also called for protections for sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, houses of worship, and polling sites, and independent investigations when ICE agents are accused of breaking the law.
“We’re still waiting to hear back from the White House,” Jeffries stated, adding that the lack of response suggests the Republicans under Trump—or “extremists,” as he called them—“aren’t serious about getting ICE under control.”
