Democrats Seek to Rein in ICE Abuses with New Demands

Proposed reforms aim to restore pre-Trump immigration enforcement practices, but some say they don't go far enough.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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As a partial government shutdown begins, Democrats in Congress have put forth a list of 10 demands they want Republicans to meet in order to provide new funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The demands, which range from banning ICE agents from wearing masks to prohibiting racial profiling, are an effort to rein in the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. However, some experts say the reforms are modest and may not do enough to transform the agency's abusive practices.

Why it matters

The Democrats' demands come amid growing public concern over ICE's treatment of immigrants and U.S. citizens, with incidents of excessive force, unlawful detentions, and other civil rights violations. While the proposed reforms would restore some pre-Trump policies, critics argue they lack strong enforcement mechanisms and fail to address the fundamental issues of ICE's unchecked power and lack of accountability.

The details

The Democrats' list of demands includes prohibiting ICE agents from entering private property without a warrant, verifying citizenship before detention, banning the use of face coverings, requiring agents to display identification, restricting enforcement near sensitive locations like schools and hospitals, and establishing use-of-force policies. However, the proposals do not define what constitutes 'reasonable' use of force or create new ways for victims to hold agents accountable for abuses. Experts say the reforms would largely return ICE to its pre-Trump practices, but do not fundamentally transform the agency or address its systemic problems.

  • The partial government shutdown began on Saturday, February 19, 2026.
  • The Democrats unveiled their list of demands in early February 2026, shortly after the police shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

The players

Chuck Schumer

Senate Minority Leader who unveiled the Democrats' list of demands.

Hakeem Jeffries

House Democratic Leader who unveiled the Democrats' list of demands.

Scott Shuchart

Former assistant director for regulatory affairs at ICE under the Biden administration, who provided analysis of the Democrats' proposals.

Nayna Gupta

Policy director at the American Immigration Council, who commented on the limitations of the Democrats' demands.

Todd Lyons

Acting ICE Director who acknowledged the political risks of detaining U.S. citizens during a recent congressional hearing.

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What they’re saying

“What these mostly require is for ICE to follow laws and return to practices and procedures that had been standard practice for a long period of time. And so they're not very ambitious.”

— Scott Shuchart, Former assistant director for regulatory affairs at ICE (slate.com)

“I would like to see this Congress clarify the detention authority and undo this craziness that ICE is doing, where everybody is now subject to expedited removal and mandatory detention.”

— Scott Shuchart, Former assistant director for regulatory affairs at ICE (slate.com)

“There are more meaningful reforms that could have been included, in particular ensuring that there is a way for people to individually sue federal officers who violate constitutional and civil rights.”

— Nayna Gupta, Policy director at the American Immigration Council (slate.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.