House Speaker cautiously optimistic on DHS funding deal, but draws hard line on mask ban, visible ID

House Speaker Mike Johnson is signaling that a deal with Democrats on funding the Department of Homeland Security for a full year is within reach.

But he’s making it clear that some of the changes Democrats want to make to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are non‑starters for President Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill.

The Louisiana Republican suggested that Mr. Trump and GOP lawmakers are willing to consider certain changes — like expanding body‑worn cameras for ICE agents — but they’re not budging on proposals to ban masks or require agents to display visible identification.

“Those two things are conditions that would create further danger,” Mr. Johnson said on Fox News Sunday, adding that White House border czar Tom Homan has told Democratic leaders the same thing.

With activists doxxing and targeting agents, “of course, we don’t want their personal identification out there on the streets,” Mr. Johnson said.

The debate over DHS funding and ICE operations intensified in January after the on‑camera shooting of Alex Pretti by a federal immigration agent in Minnesota, which sparked widespread protests and complicated spending talks enough to trigger a partial government shutdown over the weekend.

The GOP-led House is set Monday to take up a revised spending package that the Senate passed Friday.

Instead of a full‑year DHS bill, the Senate opted for a two‑week stopgap to buy time for negotiations over ICE changes in the wake of the fatal shootings of Mr. Pretti and of Renee Nicole Good earlier in Minnesota.

The broader package also funds major departments, including Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, State, Transportation and the Treasury.

It represented a breakthrough after Mr. Trump and Republicans shifted their approach in Minnesota amid public backlash over ICE’s tactics.

Still, the Senate bill faces resistance in the House. Democrats are signaling they won’t help Republicans move the measure to Mr. Trump’s desk.

“I’m not a no, I’m a firm no,” Rep. Ro Khanna, California Democrat, said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “And I’m going to advocate with colleagues that they vote no.”

Mr. Khanna said the additional $75 billion that Republicans set aside for ICE in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that passed last year is simply too much.

“I just don’t see how in good conscience Democrats can vote for continuing ICE funding when they’re killing American citizens, when there’s no provision to repeal the tripling of the budget,” he said. “I hope my colleagues will say no.”