Democrats brush off latest DHS counteroffer from White House: ‘Wholly inadequate’

Democrats on Wednesday sharply criticized the White House’s latest counter-proposal aimed at ending the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, arguing that it falls short of sufficiently addressing their concerns about the administration’s immigration crackdown.

The counterproposal, outlined in a letter by border czar Tom Homan and White House legislative affairs director James Braid, is the most detailed public offer to date, as negotiators from both parties have largely been mum on the specifics of prior proposals. It comes several weeks after the previous offer.

In the letter, the White House agreed it would expand the use of body-worn cameras and limit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations around “sensitive locations,” such as schools and hospitals. The administration also said it would increase oversight of DHS detention facilities, enforce “the use of visible officer identification” during operations and require officers to identify themselves and their agency when requested. 

But Democrats quickly dismissed the offer, saying it fails to meet several of their key demands, including a comprehensive ban on masks and face coverings for immigration officers and a requirement to obtain a judicial warrant before entering private property.

“From what I know of it, it seems wholly inadequate,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). “It fails to provide the kinds of reforms the American people are demanding.”

Blumenthal said that the shutdown can be “easily solved if Republicans get serious and really meet the moment and the demands the American people are making for substantive reform.”

Other Democrats said that while some provisions in the proposal mark a step in the right direction, they want to see those measures ultimately codified into law.

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), after viewing a copy of the counterproposal provided by The Hill, said that it is “a lot better than what they have been trickling out to us, so maybe we’re going to get somewhere.”

But asked if she sees this as the final deal, Hirono said, “No, it shouldn’t be the final.”

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said, “We’re directionally aligned on some of these categories, but we have not landed on legislative language. And in a lot of instances, the disagreement isn’t just on the language. It’s on the question of whether we need a law at all. And from our standpoint, of course, we do.”

He added, “We’re in the lawmaking business. If they say they are comfortable with this policy, and we want this policy, the way to enact it is to write a bill and pass it through both chambers and enact it. It’s not just Markwayne Mullin saying something.”

President Trump had tapped Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to lead DHS, after he fired Kristi Noem from the role. Mullin appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday, in which he fielded questions from senators as part of the confirmation process. 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote on the social platform X Wednesday that he won’t vote in favor of Mullin as the new DHS head, arguing that Americans “need a change in DHS POLICY.” 

“We demand legislation to rein in ICE and end the violence,” he added. 

Schumer hasn’t publicly come out yet with a statement on the latest White House offer. The Hill reached out to his office for comment. 

All eyes are also on the eight Democratic senators who voted to reopen the government in November last year after a 43-day shutdown: Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Shaheen said on Wednesday that she hasn’t yet seen the counterproposal. 

The DHS shutdown has already stretched for over a month, with no end in sight. Senate Democrats last week defeated a motion to proceed to a House-passed bill that would fund DHS. Fetterman was the only Democrat to vote with Republicans to advance the funding bill. 

House Democrats, meanwhile, have been putting pressure on their Senate colleagues to stand firm against the Trump administration.

They unveiled a discharge petition on Wednesday designed to force a vote on legislation to fund the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), FEMA, the Coast Guard and other DHS sub-agencies — but not ICE or Customs and Border Protection. 

The effort is a long shot, however. The petition requires 218 signatures, meaning Democrats, who hold 214 seats in the House, would need to secure support from at least four Republicans.

“Donald Trump and Republicans need to get ICE under control. We’ve made clear as a topline — this is not complicated — that ICE needs to behave like every other law enforcement agency in the country. And right now, that’s not what they’re doing,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told reporters on Wednesday, when asked about the latest on DHS negotiations.

Mike Lillis contributed to this report.

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