White House and Democrats Still at Impasse Over ICE Reforms in DHS Funding Talks

Negotiations stall as partial government shutdown drags on with no clear resolution in sight.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The White House and congressional Democrats remain 'far apart' on an agreement to implement immigration reforms as part of a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security for the remainder of the fiscal year. Both parties have blamed the other for the partial government shutdown that took effect early Saturday, with Democrats demanding judicial warrants, body cameras, and other reforms for ICE agents that the White House has rejected so far.

Why it matters

The ongoing impasse over ICE reforms and DHS funding threatens to disrupt critical government services like airport security and disaster response, as the partial shutdown drags on with no clear path forward. The political standoff highlights the deep divisions over immigration policy and enforcement that have paralyzed Washington.

The details

Democratic leaders sent their latest proposal to the White House over the weekend, but the administration has rejected their demands, which include requiring judicial warrants before ICE agents can enter private property, mandatory body cameras, prohibiting racial profiling, and allowing lawsuits against ICE. The White House says the Democrats' offer is 'insufficient' and remains committed to enforcing current immigration laws.

  • The partial government shutdown took effect early Saturday, February 18, 2026.
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke from the Capitol on Wednesday, February 22, 2026.

The players

White House

The executive branch of the U.S. federal government, led by President.

Congressional Democrats

Members of the Democratic Party in the U.S. Congress, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The federal agency responsible for security and disaster response, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Hakeem Jeffries

Democratic Congressman and House Minority Leader.

John Thune

Republican Senator and Senate Majority Whip.

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What they’re saying

“We've not seen any high level effort coming from the president or from the House or Senate Republican leaders. We have no idea where they're at in the midst of a crisis of their own making.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader (Deseret News)

“House and Senate Democrats remain steadfast in our views as to the type of things that have to happen in order for (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to be dramatically reformed, which include mandating judicial warrants before ICE agents can storm private property or rip everyday Americans or law-abiding immigrant families from their homes.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader (Deseret News)

What’s next

It's unclear how long the partial government shutdown will last, as the White House and Democrats remain far apart on a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The effects of the shutdown will be mostly mitigated, but could still disrupt critical services like airport security and disaster response if it drags on.

The takeaway

The ongoing impasse over ICE reforms and DHS funding highlights the deep partisan divisions in Washington that have paralyzed the government and put essential services at risk. Resolving this standoff will require both sides to compromise on their core demands and find a path forward that addresses the concerns of all stakeholders.