Face the Nation (Feb. 15, 2026): DHS Funding Deadlock, ICE Mask Debate, Epstein Files Probe and NATO Concerns

On this edition of Face the Nation, moderator Ed O'Keefe interviews White House border czar Tom Homan, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), and Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) about four headline issues: a frozen Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill tied to immigration-enforcement reforms; the Justice Department's release of Jeffrey Epstein-related records and congressional oversight; the Metro Surge immigration operation in Minnesota; and U.S. posture with NATO at the Munich Security Conference.

DHS Funding Standoff And The Debate Over Immigration Enforcement

Congress remains deadlocked over a DHS funding bill as Democrats insist on policy changes governing immigration enforcement. Lawmakers seek measures that would require immigration agents to show identifying information, wear body cameras, remove masks during most operations, prohibit racial profiling, and obtain judicial warrants before entering private property. Negotiations continue between the White House and congressional leaders while TSA agents, Coast Guard personnel, FEMA staff and other DHS employees remain partially furloughed or working without pay.

Tom Homan: Officer Safety And Legal Authority

White House border czar Tom Homan defended current ICE practices, saying he is not a direct negotiator but stressing two claims: that ICE uses reasonable-suspicion standards rather than racial profiling, and that masks are an officer-safety measure. Homan cited dramatic increases in threats and assaults against ICE personnel — figures he described as rises on the order of 1,500% for threats and 8,000% for assaults — and said agents carry agency placards identifying ICE, ERO, HSI or other agencies.

On warrants, Homan pointed to the Immigration and Nationality Act and recent Department of Justice guidance permitting administrative warrants in certain circumstances — for example, where individuals have final removal orders. He said Congress can change the statutory framework if it chooses.

Homan On Metro Surge And Oversight

Homan described the Minnesota 'Metro Surge' as the largest federal immigration deployment in department history and said it has already removed more than 1,000 people, with several hundred more expected. He said fraud investigators and agents working specific cases—such as those tied to churches—will remain until their work is complete and a smaller security force will temporarily stay to respond to public-safety incidents.

Homan acknowledged internal investigations into several controversial incidents — including two ICE agents placed on administrative leave after video raised questions about their sworn testimony — and said internal affairs and the FBI are reviewing those matters.

House Democrats Demand Reforms

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries argued that taxpayer dollars should not bankroll brutality and reiterated Democrats' demand for "dramatic, bold and transformational" reform at ICE. Jeffries said the party seeks judicial warrants before forced entries into private homes, independent investigations where state or local laws may have been violated, protections for sensitive locations (houses of worship, schools, hospitals and polling sites), and an enforcement focus on violent felons rather than law-abiding immigrant families.

Jeffries said Democrats are open to good-faith negotiations but insisted the reforms must be meaningful. He also criticized the administration for not providing timely briefings on possible military options regarding Iran, stressing Congress's role as a co-equal branch with war powers under Article I.

Epstein Records And Congressional Oversight

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, described an aggressive, ongoing congressional review of the Justice Department's release of Epstein-related materials. Garcia said roughly 3.5 million pages have been produced with heavy redactions and that, in his view, about half of the files remain withheld. The DOJ provided a legally required list identifying more than 300 government officials and politically exposed persons who appear in the material in various contexts.

Garcia said his committee is reviewing documents, interviewing survivors and witnesses, subpoenaing bank records and preparing hearings. He identified Les Wexner as a key witness to be interviewed about financial ties to Jeffrey Epstein and said the committee seeks answers about financing, potential coconspirators and why earlier investigations failed to produce broader accountability.

NATO, Arctic Security And Trade: Munich Takeaways

From the Munich Security Conference, Sen. Thom Tillis urged NATO allies to close a reported $2 trillion shortfall in defense investment accumulated over two decades, arguing that Europe must strengthen its own capabilities and interoperability. He welcomed a newly announced Arctic security initiative and called for working with allies — notably Denmark and Greenland — to modernize bases and capabilities in the region.

Tillis also recommended a targeted approach to tariffs and trade disputes, criticizing blunt tariff policies that risk unnecessary economic harm. He said he will oppose advancing confirmations for Federal Reserve nominees until the Justice Department's inquiry into Jerome Powell is resolved, distinguishing between allowing hearings and supporting confirmations or markups.

What Comes Next

The DHS funding impasse is unresolved as negotiations continue. Congressional Democrats insist on enforcement reforms tied to funding approval; the White House contends current statutes and DOJ guidance permit present ICE practices and emphasizes officer safety. Oversight of Epstein records and the pace of transparency remain flashpoints in Congress, while questions about trans-Atlantic burden-sharing and trade policy surfaced at the Munich conference.

Key Guests: Tom Homan, Hakeem Jeffries, Robert Garcia, Thom Tillis.