{"id":135318,"date":"2026-01-23T17:36:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/135318\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T17:36:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T17:36:08","slug":"south-texas-democrat-henry-cuellar-just-voted-to-give-ice-even-more-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/135318\/","title":{"rendered":"South Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar just voted to give ICE even more funding"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"U.S.U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, speaks during a 2022 appearance in Zapata County. Credit: Wikimedia Commons \/ USDA Media by Lance Cheung<\/p>\n

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a South Texas Democrat whose district includes parts of San Antonio, voted with Republicans Thursday to approve additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of a $64 billion package.<\/p>\n

The spending bill allocates that total amount to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including $10 billion specifically for ICE. The vote in the Republican-controlled U.S. House came despite rising furor<\/a> over the agency\u2019s aggressive enforcement actions in Minneapolis and other metros.<\/p>\n

The spending bill passed the House on a 220-207 vote. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the only Republican to vote against the measure.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe House passed this bill because it delivers results,\u201d\u00a0Cuellar said in a statement<\/a> after the vote.\u00a0\u201cIt is not perfect, but it imposes real oversight, secures real funding, and produces real outcomes for our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cuellar defended his vote by arguing the bill also funds cybersecurity infrastructure, delivers $32 billion for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), invests billions in training and equipment for firefighters and first responders, secures the border and protects houses of worship through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is what governing looks like,\u201d Cuellar continued. \u201cPassing this bipartisan compromise ensures these investments and oversight measures take effect. The alternative would have delivered none of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

In remarks on the House floor, Cuellar argued the choice was between funding this bill or potentially shutting down the government.<\/p>\n

The six other democrats who voted for the measure were Jared Golden\u00a0(Maine), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Washington),\u00a0Laura Gillen\u00a0(New York),\u00a0Don Davis\u00a0(North Carolina),\u00a0Tom Suozzi\u00a0(New York) and\u00a0Vicente Gonzalez\u00a0(Texas).<\/p>\n

ICE is already the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency, surpassing even the U.S. Marines, a military branch.<\/p>\n

Indeed, funding made available through last summer\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill, ICE now has more funding than all federal law enforcement agencies combined<\/a>, according to nonpartisan policy institute the Brennan Center for Justice.<\/p>\n

In addition to $10 billion earmarked for ICE, Thursday\u2019s\u00a0bill provides\u00a0billions in funding for the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Secret Service, the Disaster Relief Fund and other programs and agencies.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Today, the House passed the FY 2026 Homeland Security appropriations bill because it delivers results. While not perfect, this bipartisan agreement strengthens oversight, directs resources where they are needed, and invests in border security, disaster response, cybersecurity,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/s4vbenIElr<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) January 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow us:\u00a0Apple News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>| Twitter<\/a>\u00a0| Or sign up for our\u00a0RSS Feed<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Stories<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"ICE\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tThe detention site in Dilley grabbed headlines last year after an infant lost 9 pounds after being held there for a month, according to a legal filing. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"San\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tSAPD is not conducting immigration enforcement operations, but is required to report someone not legally in the country to ICE if in custody on a different charge. \t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"U.S.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tCastro said he suspects the child and his father are being held in Dilley\u2019s South Texas Family Residential Center after being arrested in Minneapolis.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t