US Democrats say Republican counterproposal on ICE reforms ‘incomplete and insufficient’

WASHINGTON

US Congressional Democratic leaders on Monday criticized a Republican counterproposal on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reforms, calling it vague and lacking legislative detail.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement that Republicans shared an outline of a counterproposal "which included neither details nor legislative text."

"The initial GOP response is both incomplete and insufficient in terms of addressing the concerns Americans have about ICE’s lawless conduct. Democrats await additional detail and text," they said.

Lawmakers are facing a shrinking window to prevent a DHS shutdown as bipartisan talks continue to stall.

A funding package approved last week provided a two-week temporary extension for the DHS, maintaining 2025 funding levels through Feb. 13.

Lawmakers must reach a deal on the full-year 2026 budget and pass another short-term measure to extend negotiations or face a shutdown impacting numerous agencies under the DHS’s jurisdiction.

Democrats are pushing for changes to immigration enforcement policies from the Trump administration and have presented Republicans with a set of demands while also refusing to back another temporary funding extension. Republicans, in turn, are calling the majority of those demands “non-starters.”

Speaking earlier to reporters, Jeffries said ICE is "out of control right now" and needs to be reined in.

"Our position has been clear. Dramatic changes are needed at the Department of Homeland Security before a DHS funding bill moves forward. Period. Full stop," he said.

ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have faced intense scrutiny after federal agents killed two US citizens in January during immigration enforcement operations in the state of Minnesota, sparking protests and calls for accountability.