If you blinked, you may have missed the government shutdown. Government funding was set to expire on January 30th for most agencies. Even though the House passed the package with significant bipartisan support, Senate Democrats got hung up on the funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The government shut down for 5 days (including the weekend), but lawmakers found a path forward. However, both chambers will have to grapple with DHS funding again in a short 2 weeks.
After Democrats’ shenanigans last October that resulted in the longest government shutdown in history, Congress agreed to pass three full-year appropriations bills — the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Legislative Branch, and Agriculture spending packages. At that time, they passed a short-term continuing resolution for all other agencies that expired on January 30, 2026. Lawmakers vowed to pass bills by “regular order” by that date, rather than enact yet another continuing resolution (CR). While we can argue that passing the bills all together in one big package- also known as an “omnibus” — rather than separately is not “regular order,” the House and Senate successfully marked up each individual bill and avoided a year-long CR.
With Democrats still licking their wounds from the last shutdown, they had little appetite to do it again. However, in light of the two ICE shootings in Minneapolis, they decided to fund all of the government except for the funding of DHS. They announced their list of demands, which included an end to roving immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) patrols, coordination with local police, requiring agents to wear body cameras, prohibiting masks from being worn while on duty, and obtaining judicial warrants for arrests of illegal aliens. While some of these demands are problematic, others are quite ironic.
For example, to end roving patrols, which we would support, local law enforcement will need to work with ICE to identify, detain and transfer criminal illegal aliens. However, sanctuary cities prohibit this and instead release criminal illegal aliens back into the streets to commit more crimes. For example, an El Salvador man who has been in the United States illegally for 9 years, accumulated a rap sheet for aggravated assault of a police officer, larceny, disorderly conduct, and brandishing a firearm. In 2022, the Biden administration actively refused to enforce deportation proceedings against him. After he was arrested again last September, ICE issued an arrest detainer to seek a simple hand-off from Fairfax, Virginia law enforcement. The local government refused, and he was instead released. The next day, he murdered another person. Fairfax County’s defiance of federal law cost someone their life.
Requiring ICE agents to wear body cameras is also reasonable. On Monday, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that all ICE and CBP agents in Minneapolis will begin wearing them, effective immediately. Not only will it hold agents accountable for their actions, but it will also reveal the truth of the situations surrounding enforcement activity. Showing first-person points of view from ICE agents can bring clarity to their work. However, the Democrats want to put limits on using the videos to identify violent protesters who impede their lawful duties.
Because of the strict demands during the COVID pandemic, we can see through the irony of Democrats asking ICE agents to unmask. Democrats peddled junk science to keep themselves safe from a disease, but ICE agents want to keep their families safe from politically motivated attacks. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu compared ICE agents to Nazi groups. This rhetoric from our elected officials has fueled violence. Last year, DHS reported a 1,347% increase in assaults on ICE agents as well as 66 vehicular attacks. Anti-ICE protestors have shown up at agents’ homes, harassing their families and causing property damage. The Democrats also want agents to be forced to reveal their names and badge numbers to whoever asks, including a violent mob intending to do them harm.
The last demand from Democrats deals with the use of warrants. Conservatives favor requiring warrants to protect our Constitutional right against illegal search and seizure of our property. However, there are different forms of warrants — administrative and judicial. Administrative warrants are signed by immigration judges, who are part of the Executive branch, not the Judicial. Administrative warrants do not allow ICE agents to enter homes without consent which is why we often see the enforcement in public. Administrative warrants are issued for violations of federal immigration law. The DHS recently expanded its policy to allow agents to enter homes if they had final deportation orders from an immigration court. While judicial warrants would allow them to do more, it would significantly slow enforcement because it would add another layer of proceedings which could add years to the process. This warrant issue could be resolved if local law enforcement simply worked with ICE and turned over dangerous, criminal aliens instead of releasing them to hide behind closed doors.
Keep in mind, ICE is focusing on illegal immigrants who have committed egregious crimes in addition to being in the country illegally. DHS has listed their “Worst of the Worst” to show who they have arrested and why. These are violent criminals who should not be on our streets. The fundamental issue in this whole debate is whether we are a nation with borders that can be defended or not. The leftist democrats, like those in Minnesota, call enforcing our borders cruel and unchristian.
In response, Speaker Mike Johnson released a lengthy statement titled, The Christina Case for Border Security. In it, he contrasts the obligations of government and those of individuals and God’s repeated actions to protect nations. He concludes:
Any time liberals attempt to bolster their “open borders” agenda by citing Scripture out of context, they should be kindly corrected with the facts (2 Tim. 2:24-25). Christians are called to love unconditionally, serve selflessly, and defend the defenseless. We are also called to stand for, and work to ensure, just government. Justice and mercy are not mutually exclusive pursuits. To the contrary, God specifically requires His people to practice both (Micah 6:8). Despite the unfounded claims of the Left, supporting a strong national border is a very Christian thing to do. The Bible tells us so.
Because Congress could not come to a consensus about these demands, they stripped out the DHS portion and instead included a two-week CR for that agency only. Despite protests from Republicans in the House, it was passed by a vote of 217-214. Now, House Republicans have their own demands for the new DHS bill to-come. They have requested that the SAVE America Act (H.R. 7296) be included. This is similar to the House-passed SAVE Act (H.R. 22) that prohibits illegal immigrants from voting in federal elections and requires states to purge voter rolls from those not legally allowed to vote.
Eagle Forum is watching the revisions to the DHS appropriations bill carefully. The SAVE Act is a necessary piece of legislation that should be included. As changes are being made quickly, we will give you an opportunity to make your voice heard on this matter. Make sure you are signed up for our emails and alerts at EagleForum.org.
