House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has taken a firm stance against the Department of Homeland Security's latest funding bill, accusing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of being "completely and totally out of control." What this really means is that the Democratic Party is drawing a line in the sand, refusing to rubber-stamp continued abuses by federal immigration agents.

Jeffries Leads Charge for ICE Reform

In a closed-door meeting with his caucus, Jeffries reportedly told fellow Democrats that he will oppose the new DHS funding bill, which would nearly triple the budget for ICE. This comes in the wake of continued violence by federal agents, including the recent shooting death of Renee Good in Minneapolis during an ICE "surge" operation.

As Latin Times reports, Jeffries told his caucus that "ICE is completely and totally out of control" and that "there need to be accountability mechanisms put into law so that ICE conducts itself like every other law enforcement agency in the United States of America."

Democrats Demand Curbs on Unchecked Power

This stance by Jeffries and House Democrats represents a broader push to rein in the unchecked power of federal immigration agencies. As the Los Angeles Times reported, a group of 12 House Democrats recently sued the Trump administration over policies limiting congressional oversight of detention facilities.

The bigger picture here is that the Democratic Party is attempting to reassert its role as a check on executive power, particularly when it comes to the Trump administration's hardline immigration agenda. By refusing to fund ICE without substantive reforms, they are signaling that business as usual is no longer acceptable.

A Reckoning for Federal Immigration Enforcement

Ultimately, the Democratic stance on ICE funding represents a broader reckoning for federal immigration enforcement. As NBC News has reported, there are growing concerns that the administration's crackdown is diverting critical law enforcement resources away from other priorities like counterterrorism and violent crime.

The Democrats' hardline position may put some vulnerable members in a difficult political position ahead of the 2026 midterms. But for Jeffries and party leadership, the moral imperative of reining in ICE's abuses appears to outweigh short-term electoral concerns. The road ahead will be rocky, but the Democrats have drawn their line in the sand.