DHS wants to shift money to immigration enforcement: report

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly wants to shift funds to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by moving money from its other accounts, Politico reported Wednesday, citing two House aides and a congressional office. 

The aides reportedly said that congressional appropriators are looking at a request to reallocate more funds to ICE. The news outlet reported that it was not clear how much money the department aims to redirect, what it would be used for or whether such a request needs Congress’s approval. 

The Hill has reached out to DHS and ICE for comment. 

House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) told Politico that moving the money would not be popular in the House.{mosads}

“ICE is not going to win an award in the Democratic caucus for popularity,” she said. “I certainly cannot see our caucus supporting taking money from other programs and putting it into ICE … I can assure you there would not be support for adding additional money for ICE.”

The office of Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the House Homeland Security spending panel, confirmed the request to Politico. 

The office added “that we are not at liberty to discuss the details at this time.”

The news follows recent ICE raids in Mississippi, which resulted in about 680 arrests and some Democratic condemnation. 

NBC News reported last year that DHS transferred about $170 million from different government agencies to ICE in 2018.