House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries drew a hard line on immigration enforcement on Monday, telling reporters at the Capitol that House Democrats will not give "a dime" to what he called President Donald Trump's "violent mass deportation machine" — and will instead try to redirect the $75 billion Congress handed Immigration and Customs Enforcement last year.

Jeffries, in line to become Speaker of the House when Democrats take control in January after the November 3 midterm sweep, set out the party's agenda at a Capitol press conference on November 9, 2026. His message was blunt: money given to ICE through 2029 should be spent on measures that make life more affordable for ordinary Americans.

Key Points

• Jeffries said House Democrats "have taken the position that we're not going to give a dime to the administration's violent mass deportation machine."
• Democrats will try to redirect the $75 billion given to ICE last year through 2029, calling it a "$75 billion slush fund."
• Jeffries backed the American Dream and Promise Act and said bipartisan immigration action could come in November and December if Republicans join.
• Trump told "60 Minutes" on Sunday that enforcement had been "too tough," but said Monday that "there is no amnesty" and his policy "hasn't changed."
• Federal funding expires on December 11, 2026, giving Congress about a month to reach a deal or face another shutdown fight.

What Happened

Jeffries spoke as the House returned for the lame-duck session, the final weeks of the current Congress before the new Democratic majority is sworn in on January 3, 2027. Democrats swept the midterms on November 3, winning the House, the Senate and most governorships, and the party's leadership is now sketching out what it will do with that power.

On immigration, Jeffries left no room for doubt. "House Democrats have taken the position that we're not going to give a dime to the administration's violent mass deportation machine," he said, calling the $75 billion a "$75 billion slush fund so that masked agents could brutalize and kill American citizens, and violently target law-abiding immigrant communities."

He also said the "broken immigration system" must be fixed in a comprehensive, bipartisan way, backing the American Dream and Promise Act and saying action could come in November and December if Republicans join — possibly forced to a floor vote by a discharge petition.

The Jeffries ICE Funding Fight: What the $75 Billion Covers

The $75 billion was approved by Congress last year and runs through 2029, giving ICE an unusually large, multi-year pot of money. Supporters said it was needed for the administration's pledge of the largest deportation operation in American history, including detention beds, deportation flights, workplace enforcement and expanded contracts with private prison operators.

Critics, including immigrant-rights groups and many Democrats, say the money has funded aggressive tactics: masked agents raiding workplaces, churches and courthouses, rapid arrests far from the border, and the detention of people with no criminal record. Jeffries' charge that agents "brutalized and killed American citizens" reflects cases this year in which US citizens were detained during enforcement operations, sometimes for hours, before release.

Redirecting the money would not be simple: the funding was written into law, and clawing it back needs new legislation. Democrats would need Republican votes in the lame-duck session, or wait until January, when their House majority can press the issue — with federal funding expiring December 11.

Background: A Week of Mixed Signals From Trump

Jeffries' remarks followed a confusing 48 hours from the president. On CBS's "60 Minutes" on Sunday, November 8, Trump said deportation enforcement had been "too tough" — a rare concession some read as a softening after the midterm losses. On Monday, he shut that reading down: "There is no amnesty," he said, adding his policy "hasn't changed."

The midterms showed voters punished Republicans on the economy, with the cost of living dominating the campaign, while immigration — long one of Trump's strongest issues — did not save the party from heavy losses. Jeffries is betting the politics have shifted: by tying ICE funding to affordability, he frames the fight as a choice about what government should spend money on — the same message that carried Democrats to victory on November 3.

Reactions and Quotes

Immigrant-rights advocates praised the pledge, saying the $75 billion should go to community services, legal aid for asylum seekers and oversight of detention facilities. Republicans pushed back sharply, saying ICE needs the funding to enforce the law and accusing Jeffries of trying to defund law enforcement; a White House spokesperson said the policy "hasn't changed."

Within the Democratic caucus, reaction was broadly supportive, though some members privately cautioned that a flat refusal to fund ICE could complicate December's spending talks. Jeffries, who faces a leadership vote in about a week, appears to be using the fight to consolidate his position as he prepares to take the Speaker's gavel.

Why It Matters

The fight is the first test of how Democrats will use the power voters gave them on November 3 — and of the money itself. Seventy-five billion dollars is enough to reshape enforcement for years: redirect even part of it and the deportation programme shrinks; fail, and the administration keeps the resources to continue largely unchanged through 2029. With the December 11 deadline weeks away, this is not an abstract debate.

What Happens Next

Democrats vote in about a week on whether Jeffries remains leader, a formality expected to pass easily. The consequential votes come in December, when the House takes up the spending package. Watch whether Jeffries can gather Republican signatures for a discharge petition on the American Dream and Promise Act, and whether the White House will negotiate on ICE funding. If no deal comes by December 11, another stopgap pushes the fight into the new year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Hakeem Jeffries say about ICE funding?
Jeffries said House Democrats "have taken the position that we're not going to give a dime to the administration's violent mass deportation machine," and vowed to redirect the $75 billion given to ICE last year through 2029.

How much money did Congress give ICE?
Congress gave Immigration and Customs Enforcement $75 billion last year, funded through 2029, for the administration's mass-deportation programme.

What is the American Dream and Promise Act?
A Democratic bill that would create a path to citizenship for Dreamers — people brought to the US as children — and some other long-term residents.

When does federal funding expire?
Federal funding runs out on December 11, 2026. Congress must pass a spending package or a stopgap measure by then to keep the government open.

Did Trump change his deportation policy?
Trump told "60 Minutes" on Sunday that enforcement had been "too tough," but said Monday that "there is no amnesty" and his policy "hasn't changed."

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