Democrats in the Senate are being advised to use a potential government shutdown as a pivotal moment to push for substantial reforms in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a new polling memo suggests. The memo, orchestrated by Adam Jentleson of the Searchlight Institute and shared among Democratic senators, highlights that a significant portion of voters support moderating ICE rather than dismantling it entirely.

The polling, conducted from January 23 to 26 amid public outrage over the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, reveals that 58 percent of likely midterm voters favor reining in ICE. The survey, which involved 1,502 participants, was carried out in partnership with Tavern Research and first reported by POLITICO. It indicates a preference for reforming the agency over eliminating it, with 30 percent supporting reform and 19 percent advocating for its abolition.

According to the memo, “Voters want ICE to adhere to the law and concentrate on individuals who pose a threat to public safety. They oppose ICE's practices of detaining U.S. citizens, entering homes without warrants, and officers failing to wear uniforms that clearly identify them.” These findings come at a critical time as Senate Democrats are negotiating a significant funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE, just days before a deadline that could lead to a partial government shutdown.

Jentleson, a former aide to Senator John Fetterman and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, argues that the current political and social climate provides Democrats with a unique opportunity to advocate for change. “The tragic events in Minneapolis have shocked the conscience of Americans,” Jentleson told POLITICO. “These circumstances, combined with the upcoming funding deadline, furnish Democrats with considerable leverage to demand reforms.”

The memo also touches on the broader implications of ICE's operations, citing that bipartisan majorities oppose several of ICE's controversial tactics. This includes detaining U.S. citizens, which 73 percent oppose; unauthorized home entries, opposed by 79 percent; and the lack of identifiable uniforms, opposed by 70 percent.

As discussions continue, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized on the Senate floor that any significant changes to ICE should be legislated by Congress rather than left to administrative actions. “The public can’t trust the administration to do the right thing on its own," Schumer stated, urging bipartisan cooperation.

The deadline for these negotiations is fast approaching, with a potential shutdown looming if no agreement is reached. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are also in tumult, with calls for the dismissal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid leadership changes announced by President Donald Trump.

The memo from Jentleson concludes with a call to action for Senate Democrats to “embrace this reality” and use their political leverage to secure meaningful reforms that would curb ICE’s overreaches and refocus the agency on essential law enforcement functions. As the clock ticks toward the shutdown deadline, the pressure mounts for a resolution that balances security with respect for civil liberties.