The NPR Politics Podcast

Episode: Senate Dems demand immigration enforcement reforms before funding DHS

Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Tamara Keith
Guests: Sam Greenglass (Congress Reporter), Domenico Montanaro (Senior Political Editor)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into escalating tensions in Congress over immigration enforcement following a fatal shooting by federal officers in Minneapolis. With a partial government shutdown looming, Senate Democrats are withholding support for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding unless significant reforms to immigration enforcement tactics are included. The discussion unpacks the specific demands, political leverage, shifting public priorities, and the risks both parties face as the Friday deadline looms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate Political Crisis: Shooting Spurs Showdown (00:32–03:09)

• The recent fatal shooting of Alex Preddy by federal immigration officers radically shifted the legislative landscape. Just days ago, bipartisan budget bills were on track.
• Senate Democrats now refuse to fund DHS without major reforms to immigration enforcement.
  • Quote:
    "That all changed after federal Immigration officers killed 37 year old Alex Preddy on Saturday. Senate Democrats now say they will not vote to fund the Department of Homeland Security without major changes to the bill."
    — Tamara Keith, 00:36

2. What Democrats Want: Demands for Reform (01:11–01:39)

• Specific reforms Democrats are seeking:
  • Warrants required for immigration arrests.
  • Ban on officers concealing identities.
  • Body cameras for officers.
  • End to raids at churches, hospitals, and schools.
• These points are seen as attempts to rein in harsh tactics, especially after public outrage over recent incidents.
  • Quote:
    “Democrats think there is an opportunity here to use the funding bill to rein in federal immigration tactics.”
    — Sam Greenglass, 01:12

3. The Leverage and Limits of Funding (02:04–03:09)

• Funding negotiations are less about stopping enforcement (ICE already has $75 billion extra authorized over 4 years from Trump’s prior legislation) and more about extracting policy concessions.
• Democrats don’t want to approve another $10 billion base funding without reforms.
  • Quote:
    “Really, this is a question that’s not so much about the funding, but more about a chance to extract some policy concessions…”
    — Sam Greenglass, 02:45

4. Can Bills Be Split? Political and Procedural Hurdles (03:09–04:25)

• Democrats want to vote separately on Homeland Security to avoid jeopardizing all government funding.
• The House packaged multiple bills to “expedite” matters, but this makes separating them now almost impossible (House is in recess).
  • Quote:
    “In the House, Homeland Security was actually voted on separately...In part to expedite things, the House sent a bunch of funding bills over to the Senate as one mega package...this shooting on Saturday really upended everything.”
    — Sam Greenglass, 03:26

5. Republican Position: No Separation, Possible Concessions Outside Funding Bill (04:53–06:01)

• Republicans are not offering reforms within the funding bill but may consider executive orders or standalone immigration reform bills—Democrats call this insufficient.
• Even some Republicans voice concern over ICE tactics, but GOP leadership holds the line on procedure.
  • Quote:
    “We’re hearing Republicans looking at things they can offer to Democrats outside of the context of this funding debate...But so far, Democrats are saying those promises are not sufficient.”
    — Sam Greenglass, 05:44

6. Collapse of Trust: White House vs. Congressional Democrats (06:01–07:55)

• Democrats cite numerous broken White House promises, especially the Venezuela operation, as reasons for deep mistrust.
• Admin actions (e.g., moving Greg Bovino out as face of immigration ops, switching to Tom Homan) do little to reassure them.
  • Quote:
    “The White House has repeatedly done things like say that they don't actually have to do what Congress says. That has caused Democrats to question whether any deal would be worth the paper it’s written on.”
    — Tamara Keith, 06:08

7. The Political Calculus & Potential for Shutdown (07:55–09:42)

• Democrats see this as a moral turning point; several who recently voted for Homeland Security funding now regret it.
  • “...he regretted that decision and now sees it as kind of a moral check on the actions of the administration.” — Sam Greenglass, 08:34
• With little trust, shifting positions, and no procedural loophole, a shutdown seems increasingly likely.

8. Why Funding Battles Remain the Last Lever for the Minority (11:13–12:09)

• Appropriations are the minority party’s only real leverage in Congress.
• Budget votes become fierce battlegrounds for core priorities.
  • Quote:
    “Budgets are essentially a statement of priorities. And so, to me, it makes sense that this is a place where we see these really supercharged fights playing out right now.”
    — Sam Greenglass, 11:56

9. Risks and Public Sentiment (12:09–13:32)

• Democrats risk being blamed for causing a shutdown; Republicans aim to exploit disruption to FEMA, TSA, etc.
• Public is generally supportive of deporting people convicted of crimes but is “way less sold” on Trump administration's harsh enforcement tactics.
  • Quote:
    “They think that the government has gone too far, that they've acted too harshly, and they want to see a lot of those things rolled back.”
    — Domenico Montanaro, 13:50

10. Shifting Focus from Health Care to Immigration (14:24–16:09)

• Democrats had planned to center this funding deadline on restoring Obamacare premium supports, but immigration issues upended that strategy.
• Disagreement over abortion stymied previous healthcare negotiations.
• Now, the issue at the heart of shutdown is immigration enforcement.
  • Quote:
    “We are in a posture of approaching a possible partial government shutdown, which is hinging on a totally different issue, immigration enforcement.”
    — Sam Greenglass, 15:24

11. Is a Shutdown Inevitable? (16:53–17:56)

• Potential for last-minute compromise exists but looks dim unless either Republicans separate DHS funding or Democrats accept lesser concessions.
• Both sides lack trust and have little incentive to back down first.
  • Quote:
    “Democrats don’t feel like they can vote for funding for an agency that’s going about business the way they are. And Republicans have not shown much willingness to back down. And when you have that, it’s a pretty bad mix.”
    — Domenico Montanaro, 17:38

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Budgets are essentially a statement of priorities. And so, to me, it makes sense that this is a place where we see these really supercharged fights playing out right now.”
  — Sam Greenglass, 11:56

• “The White House has repeatedly done things like say that they don't actually have to do what Congress says. That has caused Democrats to question whether any deal would be worth the paper it’s written on.”
  — Tamara Keith, 06:08

• "You see ... a handful of Democrats who voted to end the government shutdown last fall this time say they're willing to risk it because this is so important to try and curb the actions of the administration here."
  — Sam Greenglass, 08:57

• "They think that the government has gone too far, that they've acted too harshly, and they want to see a lot of those things rolled back."
  — Domenico Montanaro, 13:50

• "Democrats don’t feel like they can vote for funding for an agency that’s going about business the way they are. And Republicans have not shown much willingness to back down. And when you have that, it’s a pretty bad mix."
  — Domenico Montanaro, 17:38

Important Timestamps by Segment

• 00:32 — Overview of the pending shutdown and the pivotal shooting in Minneapolis
• 01:11 — Democrats’ immigration enforcement reform demands
• 02:32 — Discussion on ICE’s existing funding and limits of the current battle
• 03:22 — Why separating out DHS funding is complicated
• 05:15 — Republicans’ responses and limited offers
• 06:01 — Deep mistrust between Democrats and the White House
• 08:16 — Why the shooting is a turning point; shift in Democratic strategy
• 11:37 — Why funding is one of the few true leverage points
• 12:09 — Political risk calculations for Democrats
• 13:32 — Public attitudes towards enforcement vs. tactics
• 14:48 — Why the health care debate faded this week
• 16:53 — Discussion of possible ways to avert a shutdown

Summary Takeaway

The episode captures a volatile moment as party strategies and public priorities collide. Senate Democrats, shocked by the Minneapolis shooting, threaten a partial government shutdown to force immigration enforcement reforms, while Republicans refuse to separate DHS funding from broader spending. Amid deep mistrust—especially toward the White House—there is little room for compromise. The episode gives listeners an inside look at how violence, legislative process, and political messaging intertwine, along with the practical and moral calculations shaping Congress as deadline politics grind onward.