House Democrats Debate DHS Funding and ICE Reform

On February 1, 2026, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, representing New York, announced that the Democratic caucus would convene to discuss the path forward concerning funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Jeffries emphasized the need for significant reform within the agency.

During an appearance on ABC News’ program This Week with anchor George Stephanopoulos, Jeffries articulated his criticisms of ICE agents, suggesting they behave more like masked thugs, sometimes subjecting law-abiding citizens to undue brutality. He positioned ICE’s conduct in stark contrast to that of typical law enforcement agencies across the nation.

Recent legislative developments saw the Senate approve a package of five funding bills on Friday, but they opted to remove the DHS funding segment, instead passing a two-week continuing resolution. This decision allows time to consider potential reforms following the tragic incident in Minneapolis, where two citizens were killed by federal law enforcement.

The House is set to address these bills upon reconvening on Monday. However, Jeffries has already informed House Speaker Mike Johnson that Democrats will not hasten the package’s progress, aiming to ensure a thorough debate on the DHS funding bill by delaying the vote until Tuesday.

In Sunday’s ABC News interview, Jeffries praised the Senate’s actions, describing their agreement as a meaningful step in the right direction. He affirmed the necessity to thoroughly reform the DHS, stating, We share that view, as does Leader [Chuck] Schumer and Senate Democrats in a variety of different ways.

The Democrats have specific requirements for reforming ICE’s operational conduct, including mandating the use of body cameras by agents, prohibiting the concealment of identities during operations, and requiring judicial warrants for arrests. When Stephanopoulos inquired about the possibility of relying on the Trump administration for implementing such reforms, Jeffries expressed confidence in the judicial system to enforce these changes.

Jeffries was vocal about his concerns with the current administration, labeling it as untrustworthy and accusing it of unleashing brutality against the American people with taxpayer money. This statement followed recent events where federal law enforcement was involved in civilians’ deaths.

The interview coincided with the Justice Department’s release of over 3 million pages related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, a step taken more than a month past the deadline set by Congress. However, Jeffries expressed dissatisfaction, asserting that millions of documents were still being withheld. He questioned the motives behind these actions, asking, what are they hiding from the American people, and who are they protecting?

In response, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche clarified that the department awaited judicial approval to release a small number of files, maintaining that the review process concluded and affirming the Department has nothing to hide.