DHS and Democrats are both demanding a closer relationship between local officials and ICE
Published
February 5, 2026 6:30AM (EST)
President Donald Trump speaks during a bill signing in the Oval Office of the White House on February 03, 2026 in Washington, DC. The House passed legislation today that ends the partial government shutdown while lawmakers negotiate over Immigration and Customs Enforcement policy and funding for the Department of Homeland Security. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has featured numerous abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which have led to a rise in opposition and massive protests. Democrats have retained one powerful piece of leverage: Republicans need Democrats in the Senate to vote for government funding and with another government shutdown looming in mid-February, Democrats have been empowered to make demands that could rein in ICE and other Department of Homeland Security agencies. The catch is that some of Democrats’ demands might just stand to further empower the agency.
