Sen. Fetterman Comments on Government Shutdown and ICE Funding

Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania stated on Sunday that a government shutdown won’t impact the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He highlighted that Democrats have chosen not to endorse a spending package that includes funding for the agency.

“It’s entirely accurate; a government shutdown won’t eliminate any funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or ICE. They have almost endless funding thanks to this significant bill,” Fetterman remarked during an interview.

Approximately $200 billion has been allocated to DHS under the “Big and Beautiful Act” signed by former President Trump. This funding is expected to support ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for years to come.

“We need to figure out how to proceed,” Fetterman noted, suggesting that discussions on reforming ICE will soon take place between Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

He added, “Fortunately, people realized the Senate can’t just shut down, unlike the military.”

Fetterman has been a strong critic of government shutdowns, especially in light of the previous longest shutdown in U.S. history last year.

Recently, Senate Democrats and the White House reached an agreement to fund the government, pending House approval as the partial shutdown enters its third day. This deal will separate the DHS funding bill from the larger package and implement a short-term funding extension to maintain DHS operations while negotiations continue regarding ICE funding limits.

Fetterman also acknowledged his support for deporting criminal immigrants but recognized the complexities surrounding immigration issues, particularly referring to a “tragedy that happened in Minneapolis.” He advised Trump to relieve Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her duties to prevent similar situations, emphasizing a desire to secure borders while also considering the contributions of hardworking immigrants in various communities.