Dems list 10 ICE reforms before DHS funding deal

Congressional Democrats released a list of 10 immigration enforcement reforms they want implemented before agreeing to fund the Department of Homeland Security, setting up a potential showdown with the incoming Trump administration.

The demands, outlined in a letter to DHS leadership, include ending workplace raids, limiting arrests at sensitive locations like schools and hospitals, and requiring warrants for most immigration enforcement actions. The reforms would fundamentally change how Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates in cities like Chicago.

“We will not be complicit in funding mass deportation efforts that tear apart our communities,” said Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García, who represents parts of the Southwest Side and western suburbs. García, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, helped draft the letter alongside progressive caucus members.

The timing puts Democrats in a difficult position as the current DHS funding expires in March. Republicans, who will control both chambers of Congress, have signaled they want to expand immigration enforcement capabilities rather than restrict them.

Chicago officials have been preparing for potential conflicts with federal immigration authorities. Mayor Brandon Johnson declared the city would remain a sanctuary jurisdiction, and the City Council passed resolutions limiting cooperation with ICE operations.

The Democratic demands include prohibiting arrests during court proceedings, ending family separations, and requiring congressional notification before major enforcement operations. They also want ICE to stop using local jails for detention, a practice that affects Cook County facilities.

“These aren’t radical requests — they’re basic protections for due process and human dignity,” said an aide to García who requested anonymity to discuss strategy.

Republican lawmakers dismissed the proposals as obstruction. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green said Democrats were “prioritizing politics over public safety.”

The standoff reflects broader tensions over immigration policy that will likely define much of the next Congress. Chicago, home to an estimated 200,000 undocumented immigrants, sits at the center of the debate.

Immigrant rights groups in the city praised the Democratic demands but questioned whether party leadership would hold firm during budget negotiations. Previous funding fights have typically ended with compromises that disappointed advocates on both sides.