Schumer Defends Democrats' Delay of DHS Funding

Senate Minority Leader says Democrats 'held it up' to push for reforms to ICE and CBP

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:53am

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A quiet, cinematic painting of an empty government office space with a single desk and chair in the center, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of political tension and uncertainty.The partisan battle over DHS funding and immigration enforcement casts a somber, uncertain tone over the nation's capital.NYC Today

In an interview on CNN's 'Situation Room,' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer defended the Democrats' delay in passing legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security, saying they 'held it up' in order to push for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Schumer argued that the American people are on the Democrats' side in wanting these agencies to be more accountable and to use warrants and cooperate with local authorities.

Why it matters

The ongoing dispute over DHS funding highlights the deep partisan divide over immigration enforcement and the role of agencies like ICE and CBP. Democrats have faced criticism for holding up essential DHS funding, but they argue that reforms are necessary to address concerns about the agencies' tactics and lack of oversight.

The details

Schumer said that while Democrats have been trying to fund the Transportation Security Administration and Coast Guard, Republicans have 'blocked it repeatedly.' He argued that the DHS shutdown is 'on their back' because the GOP has refused to support reforms to ICE and CBP, which Schumer described as 'lawless' agencies that need to be held accountable. Schumer claimed the American people overwhelmingly support the Democrats' position on this issue.

  • The interview took place on Thursday, April 2, 2026.

The players

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Minority Leader, a Democratic senator from New York.

Wolf Blitzer

The co-host of CNN's 'Situation Room' who interviewed Schumer.

President Trump

The former president whose 'Big Beautiful Bill' provided funding for ICE and CBP, according to Blitzer.

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What they’re saying

“We're not going to fund a lawless ICE or [CBP], but we've been trying to fund TSA. We've been trying to fund Coast Guard. And the Republicans have blocked it repeatedly. So, this shutdown is on their back and the failure, their failure to want to reform DHS — sorry — to reform ICE and Border Patrol, which are now doing things that — all we want them to do is what every police department does, use warrants, okay? Don't mask, cooperate with local authorities. [The] American people want that. Everyone wants that.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader

“What do you say to those critics who argue that both ICE and Border Patrol are already set with funding, millions and millions of dollars, because of President Trump's so-called Big Beautiful Bill that passed months ago, so Democrats just held up this legislation for what, for political posturing, is that right?”

— Wolf Blitzer, CNN Co-Host

“Well, that's not fair at all. We held it up because we wanted, as I mentioned before, to reform ICE and [CBP], which are lawless. The American people are totally on our side, I think by 2:1 or close to that. They want it reformed. And that's what we're pushing for. We're not going to fund a lawless ICE and a lawless [CBP], and the American people are overwhelmingly on our side on that.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader

What’s next

The ongoing dispute over DHS funding is likely to continue as Democrats push for reforms to ICE and CBP, while Republicans argue that the agencies already have sufficient funding and that the Democrats are engaging in political posturing.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the deep partisan divide over immigration enforcement and the role of agencies like ICE and CBP. While Democrats argue that reforms are necessary to address concerns about the agencies' tactics and lack of oversight, Republicans contend that the Democrats are obstructing essential DHS funding for political reasons. The outcome of this standoff will have significant implications for the future of immigration policy in the United States.