Ilhan Omar and almost 100 Democrats declare they will not support immigration enforcement funding

Calls to Defund ICE by Democratic Representatives

Representative Ilhan Omar from Minnesota, along with approximately 100 other congressional members, is advocating for the defunding of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agents on January 7.

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which encompasses both ICE and CBP, is set to expire on January 30. A coalition of Democratic lawmakers, particularly those in the progressive Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), is committed to voting against any future funding for immigration enforcement, citing numerous alleged human rights violations associated with these agencies.

“We cannot and should not continue to fund institutions that operate with impunity, escalate violence, and undermine the very freedoms this country claims to protect,” Omar expressed to the media on Tuesday. “ICE has no place in terrorizing Minneapolis, or any community in America. We will unite to put an end to this regime’s pattern of violence and lawlessness.”

Delia Ramirez, a Democratic representative from Illinois, echoed calls to defund ICE, referring to agents as “masked criminals.” She emphasized the need to prosecute those responsible and suggested that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should be impeached.

When asked by reporters about how to handle criminal illegal immigrants if ICE funding is cut, specific strategies remained unclear among Democratic lawmakers. However, retiring Illinois Congressman Chuy Garcia, who holds a leadership position in the CPC, mentioned that deportation of immigrants with criminal records is legally permissible and, importantly, not opposed.

Garcia added, “What we are truly against is the violation of constitutional rights, racial profiling, aggression shown by agents, and the excessive use of force.” He described the disrespect from ICE agents in communities as unprecedented.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has yet to clarify his stance on immigration funding after the January deadline. He recently criticized the $75 billion allocated to ICE through President Trump’s proposed budget, which received no Democratic votes when it passed in July 2025.

Jeffries remarked, “It’s crucial to understand that the ICE funding affecting American citizens was part of a contentious bill, not the regular appropriations process,” referring to the Republican budget proposal.

Efforts to defund ICE may face challenges from moderate Democrats and party strategists worried about potential political fallout. Third Way, a center-left think tank, has advised Democrats to steer clear of the “abolish ICE” rhetoric in a memo circulated within the party.

The memo stated, “The sentiment behind it is emotional and the slogan is simple, but politically disastrous. Any push to abolish ICE risks wasting a significant chance to achieve meaningful immigration reform while playing directly into Republican hands.”