House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said Sunday that Democrats will continue to withhold support for funding parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) until significant changes are made to federal immigration enforcement policies.
During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker, Jeffries stated that replacing former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is not enough to resolve the standoff between Democrats and Republicans over DHS funding.
President Donald Trump dismissed Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security last week, announcing Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as her replacement. But Jeffries said the dispute is about policy changes, not personnel.
“What we need is a change in policy, not simply a change in personnel,” Jeffries said.
He called out Republicans—who control the House, the Senate, and the White House—for choosing to allow portions of the DHS to remain unfunded rather than accept Democratic demands for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Jeffries said Democrats want immigration enforcement to follow standards similar to those governing other law enforcement agencies. He stated that ICE has used taxpayer funds in ways that harm or endanger American citizens, arguing that the agency needs stronger oversight and accountability.
Jeffries Remains Firm On ‘Common Sense’ Reforms To ICE Amid War With Iran
Welker pressed Jeffries on whether the removal of Noem could help break the impasse, but he said Democrats are seeking broader reforms.
Jeffries sharply criticized Noem’s tenure at DHS, calling her unqualified for the position and calling out her inflammatory rhetoric, including the labeling of Renée Good and Alex Pretti as “domestic terrorists.” Still, he said the larger issue is the conduct and policies of ICE itself.
Among the changes Democrats are seeking are requirements that immigration agents obtain judicial warrants before entering private homes, as well as independent investigations when federal agents violate the law or cause deaths during enforcement operations.
Jeffries also said Democrats want safeguards to ensure immigration enforcement actions do not take place at sensitive locations such as schools, hospitals, houses of worship, or polling sites.
The discussion comes as Republicans claim that the dispute over DHS funding could undermine national security, particularly as tensions escalate in the Middle East. Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY) argued that the situation with Iran makes it essential to fully fund the department.
Jeffries rejected that criticism, saying Democrats have introduced legislation to fund other key DHS components—including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Coast Guard, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)—while continuing to push for reforms to ICE.
However, according to Jeffries, Republicans have refused to allow those proposals to move forward because they do not want to impose stricter accountability measures on immigration enforcement.
“These are common sense reforms that are necessary in order to get ICE under control,” Jeffries stated.
