The House of Representatives narrowly approved a standalone spending bill Thursday to fund the Department of Homeland Security, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, overcoming fierce opposition from most Democrats who have demanded sweeping changes to the agency.
Lawmakers voted 220-207 to pass the bill, with just seven Democrats breaking ranks to support continued funding for DHS. The measure keeps money flowing to ICE, Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other homeland security components for the remainder of the fiscal year.
House Democrats have largely united against funding ICE following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. Democratic leaders framed their opposition in stark terms, accusing the department of misconduct and abuse.
“Kristi Noem and ICE are out of control,” House Democratic leadership said in a statement. “Taxpayer dollars are being misused to brutalize U.S. citizens, including the tragic killing of Renee Nicole Good. This extremism must end.”
Despite the near-unified Democratic opposition, the bill advanced with Republican support. Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie was the lone Republican to vote against the legislation. Massie, a fiscal conservative, is currently facing a primary challenge backed by President Donald Trump.
Two Republicans, Reps. Wesley Hunt of Texas and Andy Harris of Maryland, did not cast votes. Hunt was traveling back to Washington from Texas at the time of the vote.
Democratic leadership had announced behind closed doors Wednesday that the caucus would oppose the DHS funding bill, though they stopped short of formally whipping against it, allowing members to vote based on the political realities of their districts.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries brushed off questions about whether Democrats who voted to fund ICE still belong in the party. Asked by the Daily Caller News Foundation whether there is room for pro-ICE lawmakers among Democrats, Jeffries responded that disagreement is part of a healthy democracy.
“In a representative democracy, you’re never going to achieve unanimity on every issue if it’s functioning the right way,” Jeffries said. “You get unanimity when you have a cult.”
Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security subpanel of the Appropriations Committee, was among the seven Democrats who voted for the bill. He was joined by Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Don Davis of North Carolina, and New York Reps. Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen.
The legislation also provides $2.2 billion for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Conservatives have repeatedly criticized CISA for its past coordination with outside organizations on issues related to online speech, including election integrity and the origins of COVID-19.
Later Thursday, the House overwhelmingly approved a separate $1.2 trillion minibus spending package funding the Departments of War, Health and Human Services, Education, and other agencies. That bill passed by a wide 341-88 margin.
Republican leaders accused Democrats of playing politics with national security by opposing DHS funding.
“This is not a game,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday. “We can’t do a continuing resolution on homeland security. If anyone’s playing political games with that, they’re going to have to take it up with their constituents.”
The debate comes as public opinion on ICE remains divided. An Emerson College Polling survey released Thursday found that nearly six in ten likely voters believe ICE’s presence in communities has been more harmful than helpful.
Some Democrats have escalated their rhetoric even further. New Mexico Rep. Melanie Stansbury said she believes Congress should stop funding ICE altogether, claiming the agency is terrorizing communities.
With the vote now complete, Republicans argue they have fulfilled their duty to keep the nation secure, while Democrats continue to push for a dramatic rethinking of federal immigration enforcement.
