Congressional Democrats are increasingly signaling they are prepared to force another government shutdown in an effort to restrict funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), escalating tensions as negotiations over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget approach a critical deadline.
Senior Democrats in both chambers have floated the prospect following the January 8 shooting of Renee Nicole Good.
Good, a local “ICE Watch” activist, was fatally shot in Minneapolis after accelerating her vehicle into an ICE agent standing directly in front of her car.
Despite video evidence confirming the agent’s position, the shooting sparked days of protests and, at times, rioting across the Twin Cities region.
The incident has since become a rallying point for Democrats seeking to impose new limits on ICE operations.
DHS Funding Standoff Nears Deadline
The dispute centers on unresolved appropriations for the fiscal year that began October 1, 2025.
While Congress has passed several spending packages, the DHS funding bill remains stalled.
Lawmakers face a January 30, 2026, deadline to pass either a full funding agreement or a continuing resolution to avoid a partial government shutdown affecting non-essential DHS operations.
Core ICE enforcement activities would continue under prior funding from the 2025 budget, but a shutdown could disrupt broader government functions, including pay for some federal employees and services across other agencies.
Democrats have refused to support additional ICE funding without what they call new “oversight measures.”
Those demands include requiring agents to obtain warrants for arrests, mandating visible identification during operations, and limiting firearm use in civil enforcement matters.
Republicans argue the proposed restrictions would effectively cripple ICE’s ability to operate and leave agents exposed, particularly as far-left extremists have carried out dozens of violent attacks targeting federal immigration officers over the past year.
Democrats Demand Limits on ICE Authority
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) accused ICE of misconduct while outlining conditions Democrats are placing on DHS funding.
“Taxpayer dollars are being used by the Department of Homeland Security and ICE to unleash extremism on the streets of America by individuals who are showing depraved indifference to human life,” Jeffries said earlier this week.
“There are a variety of different things that can be done that we have put on the table and will continue to put on the table to get ICE under control so that they are actually conducting themselves like every other law enforcement agency in the country, as opposed to operating as if they’re above the law, somehow thinking they’ve got absolute immunity.”
While Democrats have stopped short of explicitly declaring a shutdown inevitable, their refusal to back the DHS bill without sweeping changes has created a legislative impasse.
Senate Fight Looms
In the Senate, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has drawn what Democrats describe as a “red line” against increasing ICE funding.
One possible outcome is a continuing resolution that holds funding at current levels but omits the reforms Democrats are demanding.
“It’s going to be quite a fight,” said Sen. Angus King (I-ME), who caucuses with Democrats.
A full shutdown would require Democrats to block a continuing resolution in the Senate, where Republicans hold a majority but would still need 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles.
After Democrats used similar tactics last fall, some Republicans have proposed ending the filibuster specifically for government funding measures to prevent future standoffs.
Trump Pushes Back
President Donald Trump has called for abolishing the filibuster altogether, arguing it allows Democrats to hold the government hostage to advance their agenda.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has so far rejected that move.
As the deadline approaches, Republicans are warning that Democrats are once again willing to risk a shutdown, not over broad budget disagreements, but to advance a long-standing effort to weaken ICE and curtail immigration enforcement under President Trump’s administration.
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