Democrats Demand Immigration Reform Amid DHS Funding Crisis
By John Nada·Feb 4, 2026·2 min read
Democrats are demanding immigration reforms as they push for a full-year DHS funding bill, complicating efforts to avoid a government shutdown.
House and Senate Democrats are escalating their demands for immigration enforcement reform as Congress scrambles to avert a shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). According to CNBC Business, DHS only received two weeks of stopgap funding in a recently enacted law, and Democrats are stalling a full-year appropriations bill until Republicans comply with their reform requests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries outlined these demands during a press briefing, which include mandatory body cameras for agents, banning immigration officers from wearing masks, tightening warrant restrictions, and ending 'roving' patrols. Schumer criticized the current enforcement tactics, stating, 'When Americans see the pictures of these goons beating people... they say this is not America.'
Securing agreement on these changes proves difficult, as 60 votes are needed in the Senate for any spending bill, requiring Democratic support. A DHS shutdown would significantly impact its sub-agencies, including FEMA and the TSA. Despite the urgency, Congressional Republicans have dismissed the idea of requiring judicial warrants for immigration enforcement, insisting that they must enforce immigration laws. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed skepticism about unmasking requirements for agents, calling it a path they 'cannot or should not go down.'
Earlier developments also included the Trump administration's decision to cut federal law enforcement agents in Minnesota by 25% in response to criticisms of aggressive tactics. The ongoing conflict over immigration enforcement highlights deep divisions in Congress and raises questions about the future of DHS funding.
Ultimately, the impasse suggests that significant immigration reform may remain elusive, further complicating the already tense political landscape ahead of potential government shutdowns.