Patriot Brief

  • What Happened: Democrats sent a letter outlining conditions for funding DHS and ICE.
  • Why It Matters: The demands would sharply restrict immigration enforcement authority.
  • Bottom Line: Funding is being leveraged to block mass deportations under Trump.

Democrats have formally laid out a detailed list of demands tied to fiscal year 2026 funding for the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, warning Congress that failure to adopt the changes would put funding at risk.

In a letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader John Thune, Democratic leaders claimed ICE has “terrorized communities across the country” and argued that enforcement operations have created “chaos in our cities.” The letter was signed by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.

The demands include ten specific restrictions and requirements. Democrats are calling for “targeted enforcement,” stating DHS officers “cannot enter private property without a judicial warrant” and demanding an end to what they describe as “indiscriminate arrests.” They also want ICE agents prohibited from wearing face coverings and required to display their agency, unique ID number, and last name, and to verbally provide that information if asked.

So, they want the full identity of ICE agents, but don't care about the identity of people who vote in our elections?? Typical liberal logic. You can't make this up.

The list bans enforcement activity at what Democrats call sensitive locations, including medical facilities, schools, child care facilities, churches, courts, and polling places. It further demands an end to what Democrats label racial profiling, barring officers from conducting stops or questioning based on a person’s location, job, spoken language, race, ethnicity, or accent.

Additional provisions would codify use of force standards into law, expand training requirements, and mandate that officers involved in any use of force incident be removed from the field during investigations. Democrats also want to preserve the ability of state and local jurisdictions to investigate and prosecute federal agents, require evidence sharing with those jurisdictions, and mandate state and local consent before large scale operations.

The demands further require uniform detention standards, unrestricted congressional access to ICE facilities, mandatory body worn cameras with strict limitations on data use, and an end to ICE operating as what Democrats call a “paramilitary police,” including changes to uniforms and equipment.

The letter also states that President Donald Trump should remove Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as a gesture of “good faith.”

Democrats concluded by saying these conditions should apply to all federal activity, regardless of funding source. If enacted, the demands would dramatically restrict immigration enforcement nationwide.