Democrats Take Aim At Republicans, Shoot Themselves In The Foot With Gov’t Shutdown

Democrats have done their best to blame Republicans for the government shutdown, despite continually voting against bills to reopen the government. Democrats’ stubbornness — and fear of reprisal from their own radical supporters — has cost them their favorite photo opportunity. 

Wave goodbye to those teary-eyed detention facility photoshoots, for now. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials say they’re no longer required to give government representatives on-demand access to detention facilities. (RELATED: Democrats Try Suing Their Way Into ICE Facilities)

ICE authorities “have informed lawmakers that they simply don’t have the staff or funding to support those visits” because of the shutdown, according to Politico. 

“Lawmakers have previously been legally allowed to demand them as part of their oversight duties, which includes monitoring conditions and communicating with detainees facing deportation.”

Delaney Hall Detention Center houses murderers, terrorists, child rapists and MS-13 gang members.
Why are these Democrat politicians so hell-bent on getting these heinous actors out of this facility that they would storm the facility & put law enforcement at risk? pic.twitter.com/ako8XAD7GV

— Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) May 10, 2025

Now, visitation requests from members of Congress are “either being denied or met with auto-replies,” Politico reports.

ICE cited an additional explanation for the limited access in a court document filed Oct. 21. 

“With the lapse in appropriations following the expiration of the [Fiscal Year] 2025 Continuing Resolution at 12:00 A.M. on October 1, 2025, ICE is no longer funding the operation of its detention facilities (including the adoption and implementation of the Congressional visitation protocols at issue in this action) with any funds that were appropriated subject to Section 527.” 

That is, ICE isn’t funding their detention facilities with money appropriated by the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution, so they aren’t beholden to the obligations in that resolution. Including Section 527: 

“None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of Homeland Security by this Act may be used to prevent any of the following persons from entering, for the purpose of conducting oversight, any facility operated by or for the Department of Homeland Security used to detain or otherwise house aliens … A Member of Congress … An employee of the United States House of Representatives or the United States Senate designated by such a Member.” 

Here are the SIMPLE FACTS about the Democrat Shutdown:

1️⃣ Democrat votes are REQUIRED to reopen the government.

2️⃣ Democrats have voted 13 TIMES to keep it closed.

3️⃣ Democrats refuse to fund the government unless we restore- $200 BILLION in health benefits for illegal aliens,… pic.twitter.com/9h8xYBVNmu

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) October 27, 2025

The section gives members of Congress almost on-demand access to the facilities, only permitting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to demand 24-hours notice from visiting representatives. 

“Nothing in this section may be construed to require a Member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to enter a facility … for the purpose of conducting oversight.”

A slew of congressional Democrats filed suit July 30 against DHS and ICE for allegedly limiting their access to detention facilities in an unlawful manner. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb is “weighing whether to pause the ongoing lawsuit until the shutdown ends,” according to Politico. 

Democrats have been reluctant to reopen the government, many fearing backlash from their own left-wing base.  

An anonymous Democratic senator privately admitted “people are going to get hammered” by their liberal base were they to support a Republican funding bill, The Hill reported Oct. 20. Another anonymous source admitted “we would have enough votes” to end the shutdown “if people were not terrified of getting the guillotine.” 

“While the Democrats may not care about shutting down the government and making millions of public servants go without a paycheck, maybe they will get back to work now that they have lost the precious appropriations rider they rely on to try to storm ICE facilities,” Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Politico.

Today a federal grand jury seated in Newark, New Jersey returned a three-count indictment charging U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver with forcibly impeding and interfering with federal law enforcement officers. This indictment has a maximum penalty of 8 years for Count One, an…

— US Attorney Habba (@USAttyHabba) June 10, 2025

Democratic Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested in May during an altercation at a federal immigration detention facility, according to an official. Baraka attempted to enter the facility alongside three Democratic New Jersey reps, but was denied entry. 

Baraka, who was charged with a now-dismissed trespassing charge, filed suit against government officials June 3 for allegedly violating his constitutional rights. 

“Today I filed a federal lawsuit against Alina Habba and DHS Agent Ricky Patel for false arrest, malicious prosecution, and defamation,” Baraka announced on X. “They abused their power to violently arrest me at Delaney Hall despite being invited inside. No one is above the law.” (RELATED: ‘Malicious Prosecution’: Sanctuary Mayor Sues Trump Prosecutor Over Arrest At ICE Detention Center)

Democrats are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Performative protest via government shutdown, or performative protest via ICE tours?

Follow Natalie Sandoval on X: @NatSandovalDC