California Republicans, Democrats bitterly divided over immigration funding

David Lightman, McClatchy Washington Bureau on Jan 23, 2026

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WASHINGTON — California Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided over how to fund immigration enforcement, a schism starkly apparent in the House vote this week on the Department of Homeland Security budget.

All 43 of California's House Democrats opposed the bill. All state Republicans voting, including budget-writer Rep. David Valadao, were for it.

The House passed the bill 220-207, with seven Democrats from other states joining 213 Republicans for the measure. It now goes to the Senate, where it could find more dissent.

“I refuse to give more money to CBP and ICE to continue terrorizing our communities and breaking the law,” said Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., top Democrat on the Senate border security and immigration subcommittee. ICE is Immigration and Customs Enforcement. CBP is Customs and Border Protection.

“After Republicans tripled their budget last year, we have seen immigration enforcement agents act with impunity — knocking down doors without warrants, racially profiling people for arrest, and in the worst instances assaulting and even shooting bystanders,” Padilla said. “Congress must hold Donald Trump and this administration accountable.”

His views were echoed by California’s House Democrats.

“I will not bankroll lawlessness or abuse of power carried out in Donald Trump’s name. When agencies entrusted with protecting the public terrorize communities and trample constitutional rights, Congress has a responsibility to draw a hard line,” said Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Calif.

House Democratic leaders said they spent weeks urging Republicans to agree to reforms, including a ban on the detention and deportation of American citizens, use of excessive force restrictions, enhanced training, body camera mandates and mask bans.

“These common sense measures are designed to ensure that ICE conducts itself like every other law enforcement agency in America,” said the statement from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar of California.

The bill wound up with some Democratic demands, such as more money for body cameras for agents and more training on dealing with the public.

Valadao, R-Calif., is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, which writes the spending bills.

At a Capitol news conference after the vote, he praised all the spending legislation. The House also voted Thursday to fund most of the government through fiscal 2026, which ends Sept. 30.

Valadao and other GOP lawmakers hailed that action, an important step to avoiding another partial government shutdown. If the bills are not signed into law by next Friday, many agencies would have to close. The Senate will consider the legislation next week.

Valadao, who chairs the subcommittee that deals with legislative branch spending, praised that effort, saying it will help maintain security at the Capitol and make it welcome for visitors.

“Appropriations is not easy work, and it’s not meant to be. Today marks an important step in restoring trust in how Congress handles the funding for the American people. This is the type of day we dream of,” he said.

Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., noted that the bill did far more than fund immigration enforcement.

He said the bill “delivers critical resources to the front-line agencies that protect our nation every day, including the Coast Guard, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), and TSA (Transportation Security Administration).”

The bill, Kiley said, “strengthens border security, bolsters disaster response, and supports public safety operations that Americans rely on in moments of crisis. Funding these core responsibilities is essential to keeping our communities safe and secure.”

What’s ahead

Most Democrats went along with other spending bills, but not Homeland Security. They objected to what they saw as unnecessary strong-arm tactics, and were appalled at the Jan. 7 shooting of Renee Nicole Gold by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in Minneapolis during an anti-ICE protest.

More of that outrage is expected from Democrats in the Senate next week. The Senate has 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with Democrats. Prospects for the bill are unclear.

“This is not a problem of lack of money,” said Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. “There’s no shortage of resources.”

What’s lacking, he said, “in terms of ICE around the country, are standards to be held accountable to, and a willingness to hold folks to account for meeting those standards.

“The question is, how are they using that money? How much of that money is being wasted, and how much of that money is going into these indiscriminate raids or militarizing our cities in a way that makes people less safe, not more?”

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