Aguilar Says Democrats Oppose DHS Funding Bill Without Stronger ICE Limits

Democratic leaders say they’ll vote no on the DHS funding bill unless Republicans accept tougher ICE guardrails, as Rep. Rosa DeLauro cites bill changes.

Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) (R) speaks as Vice Chair Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) (L) looks on during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on Jan. 21, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

House Democratic leaders said on Wednesday they will vote against the fiscal 2026 Department of Homeland Security funding bill unless Republicans accept stronger constraints on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the House Rules Committee.

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.), the House Democratic caucus chair, said he would vote no unless changes were made, arguing the bill’s ICE provisions do not go far enough to curb what Democrats have described as abuses.