7 Democrats break party line to back DHS, ICE funding bill for FY2026 operations

WASHINGTON, DC: A group of Democrats in the House of Representatives teamed with Republicans to support a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday, January 22. The proposal also included financial support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Under the bill, ICE would receive $3.84 billion to manage detention facilities nationwide. Funding for Enforcement and Removal Operations would also increase to $5.45 billion. The measure passed by a 220-207 margin, and seven Democrats voted in favour of the bill. 

ICE's actions became a major topic of debate after Minneapolis mom Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an agent during an operation. 

Democrats split on funding for ICE

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told other Democrats in a private meeting that he would oppose the funding bill. He made that decision after Republicans refused to accept his ideas to limit the actions of ICE. Even so, seven Democratic lawmakers voted in favor of the bill, as per Axios.

After the increased ICE activity in Minnesota, Jared Golden said he didn’t want to judge all agents the same way. “I am generally supportive of giving law enforcement the resources they need,” Golden said. “ICE has a legitimate purpose.”

The seven Democrats who sided with Republicans were Reps Henry Cuellar (Texas), Jared Golden (Maine), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington), Laura Gillen (New York), Don Davis (North Carolina), Tom Suozzi (New York), and Vicente Gonzalez (Texas).

It is worth noting that Cuellar and Davis represent districts that voted for President Donald Trump in the last presidential election. Before this, Cuellar had criticized how ICE carried out its work and spoken about the fatal shooting of Good.

“If they want to get rid of criminals, that’s one thing, but when they start going after the work side, that has an impact on our economy,” Cuellar told the Rio Grande Guardian.

On the other side of the aisle, Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie was the only member of his party to vote against the funding bill.

ICE under intense scrutiny after Renee Nicole Good’s shooting

ICE agents in Minneapolis drew intense public focus after Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old woman, was shot and killed by federal officer Jonathan Ross. The incident quickly became widely discussed and widely shared in video footage online, leading to widespread protests and strong opinions from political leaders, activists, and citizens alike.

Some people spoke out against the way federal agents were operating in Minnesota, while others defended ICE’s role and actions. The growing tension prompted Attorney General Pam Bondi to address the situation, warning residents not to “cross the red line” and saying there would be consequences for violence or unrest.