Progressive Democrats are again pushing to reclaim or restrict billions in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement after two fatal shootings by ICE agents reignited outrage. While figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez favor aggressive measures — including clawbacks and withholding funds via the appropriations process — party leaders including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have stopped short of promising cuts. Polling showing rising concern over ICE’s use of force and calls from senators for stronger vetting add pressure, but meaningful change will likely depend on who controls Congress next year.
Democrats Consider Clawing Back Billions From ICE After Two Fatal Shootings, But Leadership Holds Back
Politicians want to ‘claw back’ billions from ICE. Party leaders say, not so fast
After two recent fatal shootings involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, several Democratic lawmakers have renewed calls to reclaim or restrict funding for the agency if the party regains control of Congress.
What happened: Earlier this month ICE agents shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston and Joan Sebastian Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine. Those deaths reignited public outrage and renewed debate about ICE oversight and use of force.
Political response: Progressive figures in the Democratic caucus — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) — have pushed for aggressive options, such as clawing back previously appropriated funds or using the annual appropriations process to withhold future money and force the agency to draw down existing resources.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N,Y.) would not directly say if Democrats would claw back money from ICE should they win back the House of Representatives. (Getty)
“There’s a lot of different ways to look at it,” Ocasio-Cortez told The Independent, arguing Democrats should not let what she called an irresponsible deployment of resources become the new baseline.
Other House Democrats, like Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-R.I.), have criticized the agency’s hiring, training and oversight practices. Magaziner said ICE has been hiring personnel with inadequate training and failing to enforce discipline or consistently use body cameras.
Where leadership stands: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has been sharply critical of ICE’s conduct in public remarks but stopped short of committing to a specific funding rollback. Jeffries framed the issue as one of accountability and said that, unless the agency changes, Democrats’ position would remain firm against “Donald Trump’s violent mass deportation machine.”
Senate signals: Some Senate Democrats have also voiced support for stricter vetting and reallocation of ICE-dedicated funding. Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) suggested money earmarked for ICE could be used for other priorities, while Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) urged more thorough background checks for agents, including screening for domestic violence concerns.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Democrats have multiple tools to reduce ICE funding. (Getty)
Funding background: The debate has been sharpened by recent appropriations: Republicans reportedly allocated roughly $75 billion in 2025 for ICE hiring and detention expansion as part of a large spending package, and lawmakers advanced a party-line measure providing about $70 billion in funding for ICE when reopening parts of the Department of Homeland Security.
Outlook: If Democrats retake both the House and Senate, they would wield significant authority through the 12-bill appropriations process to restrict or reallocate funds. Short of that, leadership appears to be weighing political risks and legislative options, signaling possible leverage rather than an outright pledge to slash funding.
White House and accountability: Senior administration officials have offered limited public criticism; when reporters pressed a senior White House official about the recent shooting in Maine, he declined to comment. Critics say the lack of accountability from the White House reduces immediate prospects for reform.
What’s next: The debate will likely continue through the midterm campaigns and, if control of Congress changes hands, into next year’s appropriations debates. Key fault lines include whether Democrats will pursue clawbacks of previously appropriated sums, use appropriations riders to condition funding, or press for strengthened vetting, oversight and discipline within ICE.
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