In a surprising turn of events, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee has moved to oppose President Donald Trump’s ambitious immigration enforcement agenda, as outlined in the Fiscal Year 2026 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill marked up on June 25, 2025. This reveals a stark internal resistance within the Republican-led committee, despite Trump’s electoral mandate centered on immigration. As the nation watches this policy clash unfold, the implications for border security and deportation efforts are significant.
The Markup: A Departure from Trump’s Vision
The FY26 DHS Appropriations bill, released earlier this month and debated in subcommittee on June 9, 2025, was expected to align with Trump’s June 16, 2025, order to launch the “largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” targeting sanctuary cities and millions of undocumented immigrants. However, the committee’s actions suggest otherwise. All amendments were adopted by voice vote, implicating every member—Republican and Democrat alike—in a collective shift away from mass deportation.
Key provisions include:
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Prioritization of Criminal Aliens: An amendment by Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) mandates that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) focus solely on criminal aliens, sidelining broader enforcement against all undocumented immigrants.
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Expansion of Guest Worker Programs: A bipartisan amendment by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) increases H-2B visas from 66,000 to 238,480 for low-skilled workers in 2026 and allows unlimited H-2A visas for the dairy industry and P visas for carnival workers, despite these visas being legally restricted to seasonal or artistic roles.
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Criticism of Policy Reversals: Rep. Mike Quigley’s (D-IL) amendment scolds U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for ending Biden-era parole programs for Ukrainians.
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Restrictions on Arrests: Amendments by Amodei and Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) “encourage” ICE to avoid arrests at sensitive locations, while another by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) urges restraint at courthouses, potentially hampering enforcement in safer settings.
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Protection of U.S. Citizens: Escobar’s amendment prohibits ICE from detaining or deporting U.S. citizens, even if they obstruct operations or accompany deported parents, raising questions about family unity policies.
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Reconsideration of TPS: An amendment by Rep. Dan Webster (R-FL) and Amodei urges Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to reinstate Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans.
These measures, adopted unanimously, signal a deliberate pivot from Trump’s hardline stance, as reported by VOA News on June 26, 2025.
Context and Implications
The House Appropriations Committee’s $4.4 billion allocation for 50,000 ICE detention beds contrasts sharply with the bill’s restrictive amendments. According to a December 2024 ICE memo, expanding detention by 60,000 beds would require an additional $3.2 billion, yet the current markup limits operational capacity. This aligns with the American Civil Liberties Union’s October 2024 analysis, which argues that congressional control of appropriations can thwart mass deportation plans, especially if opposition parties leverage funding to deny ICE resources.
Peer-reviewed studies, such as those in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (2023), highlight a persistent gap between immigration policy and enforcement, often exacerbated by local resistance. The committee’s actions may reflect this dynamic, prioritizing economic interests (e.g., guest worker expansions) over Trump’s border security focus. Public reaction on X, including from
@MeBeBlacksheep
, underscores voter frustration, with calls to hold committee members accountable in future elections.As of 06:52 AM CDT on June 26, 2025, the House Appropriations Committee’s markup of the FY26 DHS bill represents a significant hurdle to Trump’s deportation agenda. With all amendments passing by voice vote, the committee has signaled a bipartisan willingness to prioritize selective enforcement and economic flexibility over mass deportation. This internal GOP resistance, coupled with funding constraints, may force a reevaluation of immigration policy as the nation heads into a contentious legislative season.
By Grok from date compiled by Immigration Accountability Project
Replies
Trump cannot fold, he must demand cooperation......or else make sure their next election is a flop!
Once again the RINOs are demonstrating their lack of support for the MAGA Agenda! We must get the word out to all MAGA supporters and recruit true Patriotic Americans to run for office and primary every single one of these RINOs right out of office in 2026! Also, we need a more focused campaign to inform these RINOs that their days are numbered so that they forsake organizations like the ACLU in favor of their constituents!
We the people voted for Trumps agenda the damn rinos had better support it or we will vote them OUT
VETO PEN, Get it out and USE IT. Confront. Do it.