Dems Say They Will Block Funding Bill That Includes Money for DHS After Federal Agents Kill Alex Pretti
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Saturday night that Democrats would “not vote” for a government funding bill this week if appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security were included without new guidance on Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The statement comes after federal agents earlier in the day shot and killed a Minneapolis man, identified as Alex Pretti, 37, who was filming their activities.
“What is happening in Minnesota is appalling – and unacceptable in any American city,” he said in a statement. “Democrats sought common-sense reforms in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill, but because of Republicans’ refusal to stand up to President Trump, the DHS bill is woefully insufficient to curb ICE abuses. I will vote no.”
“Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed with the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included,” he said.
It will take 60 votes for the financing law to approve the Senate; Republicans hold 53 seats and would need help from seven Democrats to avoid a partial government shutdown.
Schumer’s statement came after a day in which a growing number of Democrats said they opposed the appropriations bill, which would continue funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The list of those who now officially oppose the current funding bill, which is expected to pass by Jan. 30 to avoid a partial government shutdown, grew Saturday to include many senators who voted with Republicans to open the government in November, ending the previous government shutdown.
“I will vote against any government funding package containing the bill that funds this agency, until we have safeguards in place to limit these abuses of power and ensure more accountability and transparency,” wrote Jackie Rosen (D-NV), one of eight senators who joined Republicans in November to open up government, Saturday afternoon.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), another of the eight, also said Saturday that she would oppose the DHS funding bill. “This is clearly not about keeping Americans safe, but about brutalizing American citizens and law-abiding immigrants,” she said in a statement. “I will not support the current Homeland Security funding bill.”
Rep. Tim Kaine (D-VA), another of the eight, said Friday he would oppose defunding DHS.
Rep. Mark Warner (D-VA), who previously said he would support the funding, said no on Saturday. “I cannot and will not vote to defund DHS while this administration continues these violent federal takeovers of our cities,” he wrote.
The DHS funding bill passed the House last week, with most Democrats voting against but seven supporting it. The Senate is in recess and is expected to consider the bill this week.
Some Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations committees have argued that the funding bill is not the appropriate place to take a stand because ICE is already awash in money that was sent as part of Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act 2025.
“ICE received $75 billion as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” read a press release from House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). “In the event of a funding shortfall, ICE would be able to maintain regular operations for several years, while other agencies targeted by this bill would likely be forced to lay off workers and scale back operations.”
Democrats argued that while voting against funding would not stop ICE operations, it would harm other agencies and programs funded by the DHS bill, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Disaster Relief Fund, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and more.
“ICE must be reined in, and unfortunately neither a CR nor a shutdown would do anything to restrain it, because, thanks to the Republicans, ICE is now sitting on a massive slush fund that it can tap into whether or not we pass a funding bill,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, wrote last week.
