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Hinson rejects added ICE limits as Senate Democrats push DHS funding standoff
Congresswoman blames sanctuary policies and rhetoric for rising tensions around immigration enforcement
Jan. 28, 2026 11:56 am, Updated: Jan. 28, 2026 1:05 pm
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Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson on Wednesday defended the House-passed Department of Homeland Security funding bill and said she opposes adding new restrictions on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, even as Senate Democrats threaten to block the measure unless additional reforms are included following the killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota.
The House-approved DHS funding package includes bipartisan guardrails negotiated earlier this year, including $20 million to purchase body cameras for ICE and Border Patrol agents and $2 million for de-escalation training for officers who regularly interact with the public.
But Senate Democrats have said those measures do not go far enough after Pretti’s killing, and have indicated they will not support advancing the funding bill unless more targeted language is added to rein in how immigration agents operate in the field. The Senate must approve the funding bill by Friday to avoid a lapse in funding, and Republicans will need at least seven Democratic votes to move it forward.
Asked during a call with reporters whether the House-passed bill provides sufficient accountability for immigration enforcement, Hinson, a Republican from Marion who is running for the U.S. Senate, emphasized support for ICE agents and defended the existing provisions.
“First and foremost, I believe in supporting our ICE agents to be able to do their job, and we need to trust them to be able to do their job,” Hinson said. “And part of that trust means that they have body cameras, and we want to provide the resources to be able to do that, so that there are accurate depictions of what happens on the ground.”
Hinson said “full and transparent investigations” into recent incidents should continue, but cautioned against drawing conclusions without full information.
“It comes down to making sure we have the full facts, not just what’s circulating on the internet,” she said, adding that body cameras and other tools help ensure transparency.
Democrats are now pressing for additional requirements, including mandates that ICE agents obtain warrants before arresting or detaining undocumented immigrants, clearly display identification, and operate under stricter use-of-force standards that prioritize de-escalation. Some senators, including Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, have said such provisions are necessary before they will vote to advance the bill.
Hinson said she opposes adding those provisions, arguing they would hinder immigration enforcement.
“I do, because ICE needs to be able to do their job,” Hinson said, adding that she believes the larger issue is non-compliance by local governments. “The bigger problem here is that we have sanctuary cities who are not complying with ICE detainers and cooperating with the federal government.”
She pointed to Minnesota as an example, saying cooperation leads to smoother operations, while resistance escalates tensions.
“My colleagues on the other side of the aisle are continuing to point to defunding ICE and ending their operations and not cooperating. That’s a nonstarter for us,” Hinson said.
Hinson also warned that failure to pass the DHS funding bill would have broader consequences beyond immigration enforcement.
“The packages the House voted on would not only fund ICE, I remind everybody, but the TSA, the Coast Guard and FEMA,” she said. “Those are all very important agencies that we need to be serious about funding.”
Later in the call, Hinson said recent events in Minnesota underscore the need for “strong leadership,” not “irrational or knee-jerk responses,” and said she supports President Donald Trump’s decision to send former acting ICE Director Tom Homan to Minneapolis to oversee operations following leadership changes there.
“The President has already said he’s going to be heavily involved in overseeing the investigation here,” Hinson said. “Sometimes you do need to make changes in how you’re doing things. And that’s exactly what he did yesterday.”
When asked how U.S. citizens should respond if they are stopped or questioned during immigration enforcement operations, Hinson said rising political rhetoric has contributed to confusion and mistrust, pointing to comments by Minneapolis officials. Advocates and local leaders have sharply criticized federal enforcement actions in Minneapolis after the killing of ICU nurse Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen shot and killed by federal agents during an immigration operation that has sparked large protests and national debate over tactics and accountability.
“You’ve got a Minneapolis mayor … a governor in Minnesota … saying you shouldn’t comply, you should resist. And so I think that’s the issue here — is they have inflamed things so much that now people don’t know who they can trust,” she said. “And again, we need to make sure we can trust law enforcement, because most of the time they get it right.”
Hinson said she was encouraged that senior Homeland Security leadership and other agency officials are scheduled to testify before the House Homeland Security Committee, expressing confidence that lawmakers will receive clearer guidance on how to improve outcomes.
“But at the end of the day, ICE needs to be able to do their job,” she added. “If these people have a detainer request or an order of removal, that is due process, and these people are here illegally, and they need to comply.”
Hinson backs Trump’s renewed push for year-round E15
Hinson also voiced strong support for President Donald Trump’s renewed public push to approve year-round sales of E15 ethanol, saying farmers need certainty as high input costs continue to squeeze the agricultural economy.
During a rally Tuesday in Clive, Trump said U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are close to finalizing legislation that would allow the higher-ethanol fuel blend to be sold nationwide year-round. Trump told the crowd he expects a bill to reach his desk “very shortly” and pledged to sign it “without delay.”
Hinson said she discussed the issue directly with Trump while traveling with him Tuesday and described Iowa’s farm economy as being under severe strain.
“If you look at the average numbers for what farmers are putting in for what they’re getting out, they are losing their shirts right now,” Hinson said. “While our farmers are hurting and our ag economy is on the brink, half measures are unacceptable.”
She said she is encouraged by a new council that includes biofuels advocates, petroleum industry representatives and refiners, calling it a long-awaited step toward resolving a debate that has stalled for years.
“Finally having all the players at the table,” Hinson said, “we can have a very serious and focused conversation about how we find a solution that maybe doesn’t make everybody all the way happy, but makes sure we’re still supporting American agriculture.”
Trump’s comments were welcomed by farm and ethanol groups, who have argued that year-round E15 would significantly boost corn demand and stabilize prices. Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, said the move could represent a defining achievement for farmers if Congress acts.
Hinson said she is pushing for legislation to move quickly, with the council aiming to finalize policy details by mid-February and advance a bill through the House by the end of the month.
“Farmers don’t want checks,” she said. “They want markets, and that is what we need to be focusing on.”
Comments: (319) 398-8499; tom.barton@thegazette.com
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