Fetterman urges ICE to exit Minneapolis, but opposes defunding DHS as shutdown deadline nears

A split inside Senate Democrats over DHS funding

Sen. John Fetterman said federal immigration enforcement should stand down in Minneapolis, while also signaling he will not support efforts that could block the Department of Homeland Security’s funding ahead of an end-of-month deadline for government financing.

Fetterman’s position places him at odds with Senate Democratic leaders and a growing number of Democratic senators who have called for withholding votes to advance DHS appropriations in response to a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis that intensified after a fatal shooting involving federal agents.

What Fetterman said and what he would vote against

In a public statement, Fetterman said the Minneapolis operation should end and that the situation had become dangerous for civilians and law enforcement. At the same time, he rejected calls to defund or abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, arguing that a vote against a broader funding package could trigger a shutdown without necessarily curbing ICE activity.

Fetterman also suggested separating DHS funding from the larger spending vehicle under consideration in Congress, but indicated he does not expect that approach to succeed in time to avert a lapse in federal funding.

Why DHS funding is central to the shutdown fight

The House recently passed a set of spending measures that include DHS funding. The Senate faces a deadline at the end of January to pass funding to keep affected parts of the federal government operating. Because Senate rules generally require 60 votes to advance most legislation, Republicans cannot move the measure without at least some Democratic support.

Senate Democratic leadership has said Democrats will not provide votes to advance DHS funding as currently written, framing the decision as a response to the conduct of federal immigration enforcement and the Minneapolis operation in particular.

Arguments from both camps inside the party

Democratic senators opposing the DHS measure have argued that the bill does not include sufficient restrictions or accountability mechanisms to prevent abuses and to limit aggressive enforcement tactics. Minnesota’s Democratic senators have publicly indicated they would oppose the DHS portion of the package while calling for a full investigation into the Minneapolis shooting and federal activity in the city.

Fetterman has taken a different approach: he has criticized the Minneapolis operation while emphasizing that a government shutdown would disrupt other DHS functions and related federal services, including disaster response and transportation security.

Key points at a glance

• DHS funding is part of a broader spending package moving from the House to the Senate.
• Senate Democrats have threatened to block advancement of DHS funding unless it is changed or removed from the package.
• Fetterman says ICE should leave Minneapolis but does not support defunding ICE through a shutdown-triggering vote.
• The Senate faces a January 30 deadline to avert a lapse in funding for affected agencies.

The immediate question in Washington is whether leaders can restructure or amend the DHS portion of the package quickly enough to secure passage, or whether the standoff will push the government toward a funding gap as the deadline approaches.