A letter to Senate Republicans outlines proposed immigration enforcement provisions as negotiations with Democrats continue amid an ongoing DHS shutdown.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A letter sent by the Trump administration to Senate Republicans provides new details on proposed terms in negotiations with Democrats over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding, as the agency remains without full appropriations more than a month into a standoff.
According to information obtained by Fox News, the correspondence—signed by Border Czar Tom Homan and Assistant to the President James Braid—was delivered to Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Katie Britt and outlines measures the administration is willing to codify into law as part of a broader agreement.
NEW: @FoxNews has obtained a letter the WH sent to two GOP Senators today, explaining some of the concessions they are offering Democrats on DHS reforms. They include:
– DHS officers conducting immigration enforcement will wear clearly visible ID & provide it when asked.
– Use… pic.twitter.com/MtYX73n5Uc
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 17, 2026
The proposals include requirements that DHS officers conducting immigration enforcement display visible identification and provide it upon request, expanded use of body-worn cameras with mandatory footage retention and increased congressional oversight, limits on enforcement actions at locations such as schools and hospitals except in cases involving national security or public safety, and reaffirmation of existing legal protections preventing the detention or deportation of U.S. citizens absent qualifying criminal violations.
Each of the outlined provisions reflects policies or practices already in place within DHS or established under federal law, according to the letter and supporting descriptions.
In the document, the administration describes the timeline of negotiations leading up to the shutdown. “Thank you for your service to our country. In response to your request, this letter details the latest status of negotiations with Democratic congressional leadership. We look forward to continuing to partner with you to bring this senseless and dangerous shutdown to an end,” the letter states.
It continues, “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shut down after February 13, a month ago. Prior to the DHS shutdown, Republican and Democratic leadership and appropriators, and the Trump Administration, negotiated a package of appropriations bills on a bipartisan basis.”
According to the letter, that package included full-year DHS funding and passed the House with bipartisan support. “Before passage in the Senate, congressional Democrats decided they would no longer vote for the bill they negotiated, and forced Congress to resort to a ten-day clean extension of DHS funding,” the document states.
The administration outlined subsequent developments, noting, “On February 4, five days after Congress passed the DHS funding extension, the Democrats released a list of demands. Three days later on February 7, they produced legislative text of their demands.”
The letter asserts that the proposed demands would affect enforcement capabilities, stating, “Unfortunately, the majority of their demands, as written, would make it impossible to fully protect American citizens from dangerous criminal aliens and expose law enforcement and their families to increasing threats of violence. In other words, they would prioritize illegal aliens above American families.”
The administration described its response, writing, “On February 9, the Administration sent a document explaining its counter proposal, and followed up with legislative text two days later on February 11.”
It also referenced operational changes already implemented. “On February 12, White House Border Czar Tom Homan explicitly ended the surge operation in Minnesota. He also instituted a number of significant changes to immigration enforcement activities, like ending ICE roving patrols, updated protocols for handling unlawful agitators, deployment of body-worn cameras, and advanced notice to and advanced cooperation with local law enforcement in conducting operations.”
Negotiations continued after the shutdown began. “On February 16, three days into the shutdown, the Democrats responded to the Administration counter offer by proposing effectively their original offer again,” the letter states. “Since, the Administration transmitted a counter offer, and then 18 days later, on March 16, the Democrats responded with a counter offer that fails again to show a good faith attempt to compromise.”
The document adds, “Since the beginning of this lapse in appropriations, the Administration has sought to bring it to an expeditious conclusion through good-faith negotiation. On the Senate floor on Thursday, March 12, the Administration’s position was repeatedly mischaracterized.”
The administration said it has offered to formalize enforcement standards already in use. “Throughout this process, the Administration has offered to codify improved operational guidelines to its immigration enforcement operations. These would be layered on top of the updates that were negotiated, agreed to, and passed through the House on a bipartisan basis.”
Among the measures detailed, the letter states, “The Administration will expand the use of body-worn cameras by DHS law enforcement undertaking immigration enforcement operations, with an exception for undercover operations. The Administration will increase Congressional oversight by requiring retention of body-camera video footage and compliance transparency.”
It continues, “The Administration will limit civil immigration enforcement activities at certain sensitive locations, subject to a narrow carve-out for immediate needs like national security, flight risks, and public safety. Sensitive locations include places like hospitals and schools, which is current practice.”
Additional provisions include expanded oversight of detention facilities and identification requirements for officers. “The Administration will enforce the use of visible officer identification for DHS law enforcement carrying out immigration enforcement activities. Officer identification worn by officers will be clearly displayed. Moreover, the Administration will require such officers to clearly verbalize their agency and identification upon request when engaging in official duties, consistent with standard law enforcement practices. Undercover officers would not be subject to these requirements.”
The letter also reiterates existing legal protections. “The Administration will adhere to existing law and practice of not deporting any U.S. citizen and will codify current practice of not knowingly detaining a U.S. citizen, except when the person violates a state or federal law that makes the citizen subject to arrest.”
Concluding, the administration wrote, “The Administration has worked in good faith to again reach bipartisan agreement on full funding for the entire Department of Homeland Security and institute common-sense operational improvements to federal immigration enforcement operations that enhance the safety of American communities.”
“Democrats must stop holding the safety and security of the American people hostage and move forward with fully funding DHS,” the letter states.
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