‘Fire’ and ‘ICE’: Fetterman Sets Own Path on Immigration Issue

As Congress rushes to a battle over homeland security funding that could trigger a federal government shutdown, Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman is setting his own path.

On Monday, Fetterman called for the Minneapolis deportation operation to “immediately end,” echoing the calls of his Democratic colleagues.

However, Fetterman has set himself apart from Democrat colleagues in ruling out triggering a government shutdown by voting against a six-bill funding package that includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“I will never vote to shut our government down, especially our Defense Department,” Fetterman wrote in his statement.

Throughout the latest government shutdown, Fetterman consistently voted for a continuing resolution to maintain funding for the government and was one of eight Democratic caucus senators to cross the aisle and vote to reopen the government in November.

The federal government’s spending authority expires Jan. 30, and several Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are demanding a separate vote on homeland security funding.

DHS encompasses not only immigration law enforcement, but also services such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the coast guard.

Failure to pass the six-bill minibus would also dry up funding for the State Department and financial regulators, as well as the departments dealing with war, education, labor, health, and housing.

Fetterman goes on to argue the futility of opposing homeland security funding, writing that Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) will still receive funding from the July budget reconciliation bill, and that he rejects “calls to defund or abolish ICE.”

However, the swing state lawmaker has called for Kristi Noem, secretary of DHS to be removed over the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota.

“I make a direct appeal to immediately fire [Secretary Noem]” Fetterman said in a post directed at President Donald Trump Tuesday. 

“Americans have died,” Fetterman continued. “She is betraying DHS’s core mission and trashing your border security legacy. DO NOT make the mistake President Biden made for not firing a grossly incompetent DHS Secretary.”

The Pennsylvania Senator’s remarks on Noem and President Joe Biden’s DHS secretary Alejandro Mayorkas represent a double pivot, given that he voted to confirm Noem as DHS secretary in 2025 and voted to dismiss articles of impeachment against Mayorkas in 2024.

DHS spokespersons did not immediately respond to a request for a response to Fetterman’s remarks.

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