Rep Ilhan Omar Vows to Block ICE Money in High-Stakes Budget Fight [WATCH]

Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, said she will oppose funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ahead of a critical House vote as Congress works to avert a partial government shutdown before the Jan. 30 deadline, as reported by Fox News.

Omar said she would not support legislation that provides additional money to the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, as lawmakers debate a sweeping government funding package.

She made her position public in a post on X, saying she would refuse to back any measure that continues financing federal immigration enforcement agencies during ongoing operations in her state.

“I will not vote to give ICE a single cent,” Omar wrote. “No more blank checks for a rogue agency that operates above the law, escalates violence, and erodes our most basic freedoms.”

This week, the House votes on DHS funding.

I will not vote to give ICE a single cent.

No more blank checks for a rogue agency that operates above the law, escalates violence, and erodes our most basic freedoms.

— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) January 20, 2026

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The comments come as Congress considers a $1.2 trillion spending package unveiled Tuesday that would fund multiple areas of the federal government. T

he legislation combines four separate spending bills into a package commonly referred to as a “minibus.” If approved by both the House and Senate, the measure would be the final legislative step needed to avoid a shutdown at the end of January.

Funding for ICE, included within the DHS portion of the bill, has become a flashpoint among progressive Democrats. Several lawmakers on the left have warned of a rebellion within their ranks if the final package includes money for the immigration agency.

Omar and other Democratic officials have sharply criticized the Trump administration and ICE over stepped-up enforcement actions targeting illegal immigrants with criminal records.

Tensions have intensified following the shooting of Renee Good, an incident federal authorities said occurred when Good attempted to ram an ICE officer with her vehicle during an enforcement operation.

ICE officials have said their recent actions have focused on illegal immigrants with criminal histories.

The agency has faced resistance from local officials and anti-ICE agitators who have confronted officers during operations, at times resulting in violent encounters.

While many Democrats have characterized the enforcement efforts as unlawful attacks on immigrants, the Trump administration has responded by releasing information about individuals taken into custody.

According to federal officials, those arrests have included individuals with convictions for violent crimes and child sex abuse.

The dispute over ICE funding highlights a broader partisan divide as Congress races against the clock to keep the government open.

With the Jan. 30 deadline approaching, House leaders are under pressure to secure enough votes to move the minibus package forward.

Progressive opposition to ICE funding threatens to complicate that effort, even as lawmakers from both parties acknowledge the economic and operational consequences of another shutdown.

As negotiations continue, Omar has signaled she will remain firm in her opposition, placing additional strain on leadership efforts to unify the caucus ahead of the vote.

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