Bulwark Takes Sen. Chris Coons: Democrats Are Willing to Shut Down DHS Over ICE Abuses
Jan 30, 2026
Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware senator on the Judiciary and Appropriations committees, explains why Democrats are ready to withhold DHS funding to force statutory limits on ICE and CBP. He discusses the strategy behind carving out DHS, the need for laws rather than executive orders, and the specific reforms lawmakers are demanding.
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Statutes Over Executive Promises
- Democrats split DHS funding to force serious statutory reforms rather than accept executive orders.
- Senator Chris Coons says statute-based limits on ICE/CBP provide lasting accountability unlike reversible executive actions.
Take Time To Draft Enforceable Language
- Write precise legislative language and take time to negotiate details rather than demand instant fixes.
- Use a short DHS extension to draft enforceable statutory reforms and then vote on them.
Targeted Shutdown As Leverage
- Democrats are prepared to shut down DHS if statutory reforms aren't secured.
- Coons frames that threat as targeted leverage, not a full government shutdown strategy.