ICE Funding Bill Passes with Key Democratic Votes

The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a Homeland Security appropriations bill on January 22, 2026, which includes continued funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Crucially, the bill passed with significant Democratic support, a move that surprised many given the party’s historical opposition to the agency’s practices. While the legislation introduces $115 million in cuts and some oversight measures, critics argue it fails to implement the necessary broader reforms, signaling a complex and controversial political path for immigration enforcement under the current administration.

Story Snapshot

The House passed a DHS funding bill on January 22, 2026, maintaining ICE funding with targeted cuts.
Democratic support was crucial in passing the bill, despite previous opposition to ICE practices.
The bill introduces $115 million cuts to ICE operations but lacks broader reforms.
Critics worry about continued ICE abuses without significant accountability measures.
The bill’s passage highlights internal GOP tensions and Democratic strategic decisions.

House Passes ICE Funding Bill with Democratic Support

On January 22, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a Homeland Security appropriations bill that includes funding for ICE, despite ongoing controversies surrounding the agency. The bill passed with crucial Democratic support, following procedural negotiations led by House Speaker Mike Johnson. This move is seen as necessary to prevent a government shutdown that would affect other DHS agencies like TSA and FEMA.

The bill provides full-year appropriations through September 30, 2026, and introduces $115 million in cuts to ICE enforcement and removal operations. It also reduces the number of detention beds by 5,500 and adds oversight measures, though critics argue these do not go far enough in addressing broader accountability and reform of ICE practices. The passage of the bill, achieved by a narrow bipartisan margin, reflects the complex political dynamics at play.

The House passed $1.2 trillion in government funding, overcoming intense Democratic opposition to funding Immigrations and Customs Enforcement…⁰$64.4 billion to DHS, including $10 billion for ICE — was approved.#wtpBLUE #DV1
Getting paid handedly to threaten and ransack. pic.twitter.com/MRnD3DHc15

— Bren, Living One Day At a Time🥳🫣🤷🏻‍♀️🥰 (@bkaydw) January 22, 2026

Democratic Support Amidst Controversy

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries played a pivotal role by not actively opposing the bill, despite the party’s historical criticism of ICE. This strategic decision was influenced by the need to protect funding for other DHS agencies that could be severely impacted by a shutdown. The Democratic support underscores the pragmatic approach taken to avoid broader negative consequences for essential services, even as it draws criticism from immigration advocates.

Advocacy groups like the ACLU have been vocal in their opposition, emphasizing that the bill fails to impose necessary reforms on ICE, which has been under scrutiny for reports of abuses and a record number of deaths in custody in 2025.

Sure about that? Looks like ICE funding passed…https://t.co/h6oJxZwX4Q

— The ICE Man 🧊 (@IllegalDeporter) January 23, 2026

Implications and Reactions

The bill’s passage has significant implications for immigration enforcement and the political landscape. While it averts a potential shutdown and provides funding for DHS operations, it also reinforces ICE’s operational budget without implementing major reforms. This outcome signals a degree of congressional acquiescence to the Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement policies.

In the long term, the decision may strain communities affected by ICE operations and amplify political divisions between proponents of strict immigration controls and advocates for comprehensive reform. As the bill moves to the Senate, its final outcome remains uncertain, with advocacy groups continuing to push for more substantial changes.

Watch the report: House approves final spending bills as Democrats denounce ICE funding