The NPR Politics Podcast Why Democrats have little leverage to reform ICE
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Apr 17, 2026 Billions for immigration enforcement keep flowing even as Homeland Security funding stalls, raising big questions about oversight and accountability. A Republican push for multiyear funding could make scrutiny even harder. The conversation also turns to another failed war powers vote, Iran tensions, and how Congress keeps handing more power to presidents.
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Why The DHS Shutdown Has Barely Constrained ICE
- Democrats tried to use DHS funding to force ICE reforms, but the shutdown has produced more leadership churn than policy change.
- After two U.S. citizens were killed by federal immigration officers, Democrats withheld support; Kristi Noem and ICE head Todd Lyons later resigned.
How A $75 Billion Windfall Weakened ICE Oversight
- ICE has kept operating through the shutdown because Republicans previously gave it $75 billion outside normal yearly appropriations.
- Sam Gringlas says that usually ICE gets about $10 billion a year, so Democrats lost a key oversight lever tied to annual funding fights.
Three Year Funding Could Sideline Congress Further
- A Republican plan to fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years would bypass the public hearings where Congress usually questions spending.
- Ximena Bustillo explains that without annual appropriations, agency officials lose a regular forum to justify past spending and future plans.
