The House recently passed a spending bill focused on funding the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite strong opposition from the majority of Democrats. The bill was approved by a narrow margin of 220-207, with a mere seven Democrats voting in favor. Many House Democrats have expressed concerns about continuing to support ICE until there are substantial reforms, particularly following the shooting death of Renee Good by ICE agents in Minneapolis on January 7.
House Democratic leaders condemned the actions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE, asserting that taxpayer funds were being misused to harm American citizens, citing the “tragic murder” of Renee Good. They emphasized the need for this “extremism” to stop.
In a striking move, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, known for his fiscal conservatism, was the only Republican to oppose the DHS funding bill, which also supports agencies like the Coast Guard and FEMA. Notably, GOP Representatives Wesley Hunt and Andy Harris abstained from the vote, with Hunt engaged in campaigning back in Texas.
Prior to the vote, House Democrats revealed their objections to the DHS funding in a closed meeting but ultimately argued that lawmakers should reflect their district’s views when casting their votes. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries sidestepped a question about the potential for Democrats who support ICE funding when speaking to reporters. He commented on the nature of representative democracy, indicating that achieving complete agreement on every issue is unrealistic, especially in contrast to a “cult” where unanimous views are expected.
One of the Democrats sponsoring the bill was Rep. Henry Cuellar from Texas. Other supporters included Reps. Jared Golden, Marie Glusenkamp Perez, Don Davis, Tom Suozzi, and Laura Gillen. The funding bill notably allocates $2.2 billion for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which has faced backlash from conservatives for its past associations with groups that have stifled online discourse on critical topics like election integrity.
Lawmakers also passed a separate $1.2 trillion minibus package to fund various departments, including the Army and Education, with a vote of 341-88. Republican leaders criticized Democratic resistance to supporting ICE funding for the fiscal year, with House Speaker Mike Johnson urging that homeland security should not be politicized. A recent Emerson College poll indicated that nearly 60% of likely voters believe ICE does more harm than good in their communities, highlighting a growing division on the topic.
Commenting on the increasing scrutiny of ICE, Democratic Rep. Melanie Stansberry of New Mexico asserted the need to withhold funds from organizations that “terrorize” communities.
