Story perspectives

Democrats Push DHS Funding, Exclude Immigration Enforcement

3/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) lead a petition to fund DHS, excluding immigration enforcement.
The plan would fund Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) while withholding resources from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Jeffries says the proposal protects citizens from ICE's actions amid the shutdown.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) argues the plan jeopardizes national security by defunding CBP.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, also known as the Hart–Celler Act, abolished national origin quotas, significantly increasing immigration from Asia and Latin America. This shift allowed over 300,000 immigrants annually, reshaping U.S. demographics. Today, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries' funding proposal highlights ongoing debates about immigration enforcement, particularly regarding the roles of ICE and CBP in national security.

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Story summary

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) lead a petition to fund DHS, excluding immigration enforcement.
The plan would fund Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) while withholding resources from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Jeffries says the proposal protects citizens from ICE's actions amid the shutdown.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) argues the plan jeopardizes national security by defunding CBP.

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