Hakeem Jeffries says Dems will not back funding bill for 'killing machine' DHS even if Noem is fired

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Hakeem Jeffries says Dems will not back funding bill for 'killing machine' DHS even if Noem is fired

During an appearance on "CNN News Central" Wednesday, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem being fired is "not enough" for Democrats to back the GOP's proposed DHS funding bill.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem being fired is "not enough" for Democrats to back the Republican's proposed funding bill for the agency, which he referred to as a "killing machine."

During an appearance on "CNN News Central" Wednesday, Jeffries was asked by host Kate Bolduan which specific changes would have to be made to the funding bill for Democrats to get on board, and whether Noem being fired would be enough.

"Noem being fired or removed from office is, of course, not enough," Jeffries responded, adding that "it's a start."

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House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem would be "a start" in garnering Democratic support for the GOP's proposed funding bill. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images; Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images)

Bolduan followed up by again asking Jeffries what changes would be needed for Democrats to support and pass the bill.

"First of all, there’s the basic value and principle that taxpayer dollars can’t be used to kill American citizens, to brutalize American communities and to target violently law-abiding—" Jeffries said before being interrupted by Bolduan.

Pushing back on the minority leader's assertion, Bolduan said, "Currently, that’s not a policy that says you can use taxpayer dollars to kill American citizens."

Despite the host's pushback, Jeffries doubled down on his claim, citing the recent fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis as evidence.

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"That’s clearly what’s happening. We have a DHS killing machine. The American people have seen it. That’s the reality of what happened to Alex Pretti. It’s the reality of what happened to Renee Nicole Good. It’s the reality to the fact that dozens of people have actually died in ICE detention over the last year," he argued.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks at a press conference at One World Trade Center in New York City, on Jan. 8, 2026.  (David 'Dee' Delgado/Reuters)

Jeffries said the Trump administration had "promised to deport violent felons," and although he supported that cause, he claimed "that’s not what’s happening right now."  

"We also need ICE to conduct itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country," he continued. "That means judicial warrants. That means no masks. That means body cameras. That means when officers actually break the law, they should be held criminally accountable for their behavior. That’s what happens to every other law enforcement agency in the country."

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"But you have this administration saying ICE is absolutely immune, which is part of the reason why you see these people behaving in this kind of rogue fashion," Jeffries added.

Fox News Digital has reached out to DHS for comment.

Senate Democrats have threatened to sink a massive government spending bill — which would impact the Department of War, Department of Transportation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other offices — over its provisions on ICE.

A view of the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., United States, on Nov. 4, 2024. (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

If the legislation, which passed the House last week, fails to clear the Senate by the end of the day Friday, large swaths of the government could be forced to pause or reduce operations until an agreement is reached.

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Leaders within the conservative House Freedom Caucus have warned they will not accept changes to ICE funding that's included in the DHS portion of the package.

Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.