House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from New York, warned Friday that a failure to pass Democratic-backed immigration enforcement reforms could result in funding disruptions across parts of the Department of Homeland Security.
Speaking on Morning Edition, Jeffries said Republicans would be responsible for a shutdown affecting agencies outside immigration enforcement if they do not support the proposed reforms, Breitbart News reported. That said, as in the previous government shutdown last fall, it was his party that refused to back measures to reopen the government.
Jeffries said Democrats believe federal funding should prioritize affordability and humane treatment.
“Democrats have certainly articulated a position on behalf of the American people that taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, not brutalize or kill them,” Jeffries said.
He said immigration enforcement should be “fair,” “just,” and “humane,” arguing that current enforcement practices do not meet those standards.
“ICE is completely and totally out of control, and it needs to be reined in, which is why we need dramatic reform at the Department of Homeland Security,” Jeffries said.
Jeffries warned that failure to pass those reforms would lead to consequences beyond immigration agencies.
“And Republicans either are going to support those reforms, or they’ll make the decision that they want to shut down other aspects of DHS, like Coast Guard, like FEMA, and like TSA, which would be very unfortunate,” he said.
NPR co-host Steve Inskeep noted that immigration enforcement agencies currently have funding in place.
Inskeep said that any shutdown would primarily affect other DHS components rather than immigration authorities.
With just over a week until the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) funding deadline, Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have issued a sweeping list of 10 demands that Democrats say must be met in exchange for keeping the department funded past Feb. 13.
The joint proposal, announced Wednesday, centers on major restrictions to federal immigration enforcement — a move that has drawn fierce pushback from Republicans and set the stage for another high-stakes budget fight with President Trump and GOP leadership.
Among the Democrats’ conditions: barring DHS officers from entering private property without judicial warrants, prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing masks, and requiring them to display visible name tags and ID numbers. The list also includes new limits on where agents can operate, a national “reasonable use of force” standard, and mandates for body-worn cameras across all federal enforcement personnel.
The full list includes:
- Bar DHS officers from entering private property without a judicial warrant.
- Ban ICE and immigration officers from wearing masks.
- Require all officers to display their name, ID number, and agency.
- Restrict operations near schools, churches, polling places, medical and child-care facilities.
- Prohibit enforcement actions based on race, ethnicity, language, or accent.
- Pass a national “reasonable use of force” policy.
- Allow state and local governments to investigate and prosecute excessive-force cases.
- Allow states to sue DHS for misconduct.
- Mandate body cameras for all DHS officers.
- Regulate and standardize officer uniforms and equipment.
Schumer and Jeffries framed the plan as necessary reform after the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens—nurse Alex Pretti and mother Renee Good —by federal agents during immigration operations in Minneapolis.
“Federal immigration agents cannot continue to cause chaos in our cities while using taxpayer money that should be used to make life more affordable for working families,” the pair wrote in a letter to congressional leaders. “The American people rightfully expect their elected representatives to take action to rein in ICE and ensure no more lives are lost.”
But Republicans are calling the plan a political stunt designed to appease the progressive base.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) blasted the list as an “ultimatum,” accusing Democrats of refusing to negotiate in good faith.
The timing of the proposal comes as Democrats link DHS funding to accountability for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her handling of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.