Democrats present 10 demands for DHS funding as Feb. 13 deadline approaches
House and Senate Democratic leaders outlined immigration enforcement reforms Wednesday, citing aggressive tactics by agents that resulted in deaths in Minneapolis last month.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer outlined 10 demands Wednesday to pass a Department of Homeland Security funding bill ahead of the Feb. 13 deadline.
The demands, presented at a Capitol news conference, focus on changes to immigration enforcement practices. Democratic leaders said the reforms are necessary in response to aggressive tactics used by agents that resulted in deaths of U.S. protesters in Minneapolis last month.
"Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for everyday Americans, not to brutalize or kill them," Jeffries said at the news conference. "ICE is completely and totally out of control, immigration enforcement should be just, it should be fair, and it should be humane. That is not what is taking place right now."
The 10 demands include barring Department of Homeland Security officers from entering private property without a judicial warrant. Democrats also called for banning ICE and immigration officers from wearing masks and requiring officers to display their name, ID number and the agency they work for.
The proposals restrict operations near schools, churches, polling places and medical and child care facilities. The demands also prohibit execution of stops based on individuals' jobs, ethnicity, race, language or accent.
Democrats called for passage of a "reasonable use of force policy" and proposed allowing state and local governments to investigate and prosecute potential crimes and cases of excessive force. The demands also include allowing states to sue over enforcement practices.
Jeffries said "dramatic changes" are necessary at DHS, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. He urged Republicans to "get serious" in negotiations.
Lawmakers face a Feb. 13 deadline to pass legislation to fund DHS for fiscal year 2026 or risk a shutdown of the department. While negotiations are ongoing, Democrats and Republicans appear to be far apart on the issue, with some Republicans having already rejected several of the Democratic proposals.
Schumer and other Democratic leaders joined Jeffries at the Capitol news conference to present the reform package.