On January 14, 2026, Representative Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts, introduced a bill to reverse a recent funding increase for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that was included in President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill. Moulton's legislation seeks to redirect these funds to support health care tax credits aimed at reducing premiums under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

This initiative follows a bipartisan effort in the House, where over a dozen Republicans joined Democrats to extend ACA subsidies that expired at the beginning of the year. Negotiations in the Senate are reportedly underway to finalize a compromise to revive these subsidies. Moulton criticized the Trump administration's budget priorities, arguing that the increase in ICE's funding—projected at $75 billion through 2029—was disproportionate, particularly as American families face escalating health care costs. His bill proposes to restore ICE's budget to its previous annual level of $10 billion, reallocating the remaining funds to health care subsidies. Co-sponsors of the bill include Democratic Representatives André Carson, Darren Soto, and Sylvia Garcia.

The introduction of this bill comes in response to public outrage following the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE agent in Minnesota, which has intensified calls for a reevaluation of ICE's funding and operations. Moulton indicated that this incident has raised significant concerns among some members of Congress, with discussions about potentially freezing ICE's budget to address these issues. He emphasized that the recent shooting should be a critical factor in funding negotiations, suggesting that it reflects broader concerns about ICE's impact on communities.

In a related development, Representative Shri Thanedar (D-MI) announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at abolishing ICE, asserting that the agency is beyond reform and has engaged in actions he describes as 'murders.' Thanedar's announcement follows the recent shooting of 37-year-old protester Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. The incident has drawn condemnation from various Democratic officials and has sparked protests against ICE. Thanedar's proposal appears to be gaining traction among some Democratic lawmakers, with support from colleagues such as Representatives Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Tim Kennedy (D-NY), and Al Green (D-TX).

The proposals to either reallocate funding or abolish ICE reflect a growing consensus among some lawmakers regarding the agency's controversial role and its implications for community safety and well-being. As discussions continue in Congress regarding spending measures and the potential for another government shutdown, these legislative efforts highlight the urgent need for a reassessment of ICE's funding and operational priorities.