With a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding deadline approaching, House Democrats are signaling they may be willing to take a narrower approach to avoid disruptions to critical public services. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Thursday that she would support keeping certain DHS agencies funded even if negotiations over immigration enforcement reforms stall.

DeLauro’s proposal comes as lawmakers face a looming Feb. 13 deadline. If Congress fails to reach a deal, multiple DHS agencies could lose funding, raising the possibility of a partial shutdown that would impact federal workers and key national security operations.

In her statement, DeLauro said she supports the immigration enforcement reforms being pushed by Democratic leadership, particularly changes aimed at increasing oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). One reform she highlighted would require immigration officers to obtain a judge’s warrant before entering a home — a move Democrats argue would bring immigration enforcement practices more in line with other law enforcement standards.

However, DeLauro also emphasized that negotiations over ICE and CBP should not put other essential DHS functions at risk. She said she would back separate funding measures to keep agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and TSA operating while talks continue.

Her reasoning was straightforward: even if lawmakers remain divided over immigration policy, the public should not face disrupted emergency response services, airport security delays, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, or missed paychecks for federal employees. DeLauro argued that isolating these agencies from the broader DHS funding fight would prevent major disruptions while still allowing Democrats to push for accountability and reforms in immigration enforcement.

DeLauro also directly blamed Republicans for the current standoff, warning that if GOP lawmakers refuse to negotiate on ICE and CBP reforms, they will be responsible for any shutdown-related fallout. She said that if public services are interrupted or federal paychecks are delayed, it would be because Republicans refused to accept reforms aimed at holding immigration agencies to higher standards.

Republicans, however, have criticized the Democratic strategy. They argue that withholding funding from ICE and CBP would weaken law enforcement and national security. House Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota dismissed the idea of carving out funding for non-immigration agencies, suggesting it would amount to “defunding law enforcement.” Speaking to reporters, he laughed off the proposal and argued that immigration enforcement is a major part of DHS’s mission.

Despite Republican pushback, the concept has gained traction among some Democrats, including Sen. Elisa Slotkin of Michigan, who has shown interest in the idea of separating DHS agencies to prevent broader disruptions.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also reinforced the Democratic position in an interview Thursday. Jeffries said Democrats support agencies like FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard, calling their work essential to national safety. But he argued that if a DHS shutdown happens, it will be because Republicans are unwilling to support reforms that would require ICE to operate with more accountability. In his view, the GOP is effectively prioritizing shielding ICE over keeping other key agencies running.

As the deadline draws closer, DeLauro’s proposal highlights a growing effort among Democrats to avoid a full-scale shutdown while maintaining pressure for immigration enforcement reforms. Whether Republicans will accept that approach remains uncertain, but the debate is quickly becoming a major flashpoint in the larger battle over DHS funding.