Democratic lawmakers in the United States are mounting a concerted effort to claw back and repurpose the massive funding increases granted to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as the agency continues its controversial crackdown in Minneapolis under President Donald Trump's orders. The push has gained urgency following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minnesota, an incident that has sparked widespread protests.
A Glut of Funding Under Scrutiny
The financial battleground is the Republican-passed "One Big, Beautiful Bill," which allocated enormous sums to bolster ICE's capabilities. The legislation set aside $29.9 billion for enforcement operations and a further $45 billion for constructing new detention facilities. Democrats, from progressives to moderates, argue this represents a drastic and unnecessary surplus.
Moderate Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan highlighted the agency's flush resources, noting to The Independent that ICE is offering "$50,000 signing bonuses" to recruits. Her sentiment is echoed by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who asserts ICE should be funded at its traditional annual level of up to $10 billion, not the extraordinary sums recently approved.
Democratic Divisions on a Path Forward
While united in wanting to curb ICE's power and spending, Democrats are deeply divided on what to do with the funds. The party's left flank, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has emphasised that the ICE money was secured through cuts to healthcare. The Congressional Progressive Caucus supports legislation by Representative Jimmy Gomez to transfer the funding to affordable housing projects.
In contrast, Senator Cortez Masto has proposed redirecting the nearly $75 billion to local law enforcement agencies. "Let's transfer those funds to work with police officers who actually work to keep our community safe," she stated. This split underscores the broader strategic debate within the party on how to effectively challenge the agency's mandate.
Leverage in a Looming Shutdown Showdown
The political fight is set against the backdrop of a potential government shutdown, with funds due to run out by the end of the month. Republicans have abandoned the usual "omnibus" spending bill approach, instead pushing individual "mini-bus" bills. This ironically gives Democrats significant leverage over the Department of Homeland Security funding bill, which includes ICE's budget.
Representative Angie Craig, who represents Minneapolis suburbs, vowed, "I won't go for a penny of funding for ICE until they stop terrorising Minnesotans." Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland echoed this, declaring he will not vote for "one more dime for Trump's lawless ICE operations."
However, with Republicans controlling Congress and President Trump in the White House, backed by advisor Stephen Miller, outright defunding or abolishing ICE remains unlikely. House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed Democratic efforts as "political games," defending ICE agents as "enforcing federal law" and referencing the Renee Good case as a tragic consequence of resistance in sanctuary cities.
Some centrist Democratic groups, like Third Way, caution against using the "Abolish ICE" framing, urging a focus on reforming abuses instead. The party is wary of political fallout from the immigration issue, recalling losses in 2024, but with public sentiment shifting, there is a renewed drive to demonstrate concrete action against ICE's expanded powers.
