Only a handful of House Democrats are expected to back a DHS funding bill this week after top party leaders spoke out against it during a closed-door caucus meeting Wednesday, according to three people granted anonymity to describe the meeting.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was among the many Democrats who spoke out against the bill, two of the people said. Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the No. 3 Democratic leader, later told reporters he was against the bill and that leaders heard “overwhelmingly” from members that this bill did not do enough to rein in ICE following recent clashes in Minnesota.
“We’ll be voting no unless there are any substantive changes or amendments,” Aguilar said, confirming that other members of leadership also spoke out against the bill.
One of the few House Democrats openly defending the bill is Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, who helped negotiate the legislation as the lead Democrat on the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee.
He told reporters he understands his colleagues’ concerns about reported ICE abuses but cautioned that the alternative was worse — a continuing resolution for the department that he characterized as a “blank check.” The negotiated bill includes $20 million for body cameras and guardrails to prevent the transfer of funds between agencies, among other modest restrictions.
“I’d rather have some provisions and no provisions at all,” he said, noting that the agency separately received billions of dollars under the GOP megabill last year. “The alternative would be a blank check, and I don’t want to give them a blank check.”
But many of Cuellar’s fellow appropriators view the matter differently. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), another member of the DHS subcommittee, said in a post on X that she would be voting against it.
Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.) also said he plans to vote against the bill and predicted a majority of fellow Democratic appropriators would join him. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), a senior appropriator and former party leader, said he is leaning no, while Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.) said he was undecided.
Republicans should have the votes to pass the DHS funding measure without Democratic help, but attendance has been an issue for House GOP leaders in recent weeks. They warned in their own closed-door party meeting Wednesday that Thursday’s planned vote could be close and that they needed to immediately share any concerns they might have about the bill, according to two people granted anonymity to describe the private comments.
Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.
