Less than 48 hours before federal money is set to run dry, Senate Democrats on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, released a 12-point plan they say must be written into this year’s DHS appropriations bill. The blueprint—circulated after a closed-door caucus lunch—was prompted by the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti during an ICE traffic stop and by months of complaints from mayors and company security officers about unannounced workplace raids.
Key provisions include: • a warrant requirement for “knock-and-talk” operations; • compulsory use of body cameras with public release of footage within 20 days; • a ban on plain-clothes officers wearing balaclavas or other face coverings; • creation of a uniform disciplinary code with mandatory termination for falsifying evidence; • independent investigations of any use of deadly force; • an explicit prohibition on detaining U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; • dedicated funding for mental-health services for communities where raids occur.
Democrats also want ICE to scrap daily arrest quotas and to forbid enforcement actions at primary schools, hospitals, day-care centres and places of worship—rules once spelled out in Obama-era guidance but rescinded in 2025. Business-immigration lawyers note that “sensitive-location” protections are vital for multinational employers that host on-site vaccination clinics or language-training classes, venues that have occasionally been swept during recent enforcement surges.
![Democrats unveil legislative wish-list to rein in ICE ahead of funding deadline]()
In this fluid enforcement environment, VisaHQ can help companies and their globally mobile employees maintain compliance by tracking renewal windows, assembling application packets and offering real-time guidance through its online dashboard; more details are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/
Republicans have labelled the demands “obstructionist,” but several centrist GOP senators hinted they might accept narrower language on body cameras and independent review panels. Meanwhile, trade groups representing the tech, life-sciences and hospitality sectors are lobbying both parties to avoid a shutdown that could stall H-1B extensions, delay PERM audits and upend seasonal-worker hiring for the spring.
Human-resources teams should prepare template communications for foreign national staff, reminding them to carry hard-copy I-94s when travelling domestically—a best practice whenever federal databases such as SAVE and SEVIS risk downtime. Companies should also confirm that their legal vendors have contingency filing strategies if premium processing is suspended.
Whether or not the full list survives negotiations, employers should expect at least some new statutory constraints on ICE field tactics—changes that will alter audit preparation, work-site inspection protocols and overall mobility-risk management in 2026 and beyond.
Key provisions include: • a warrant requirement for “knock-and-talk” operations; • compulsory use of body cameras with public release of footage within 20 days; • a ban on plain-clothes officers wearing balaclavas or other face coverings; • creation of a uniform disciplinary code with mandatory termination for falsifying evidence; • independent investigations of any use of deadly force; • an explicit prohibition on detaining U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents; • dedicated funding for mental-health services for communities where raids occur.
Democrats also want ICE to scrap daily arrest quotas and to forbid enforcement actions at primary schools, hospitals, day-care centres and places of worship—rules once spelled out in Obama-era guidance but rescinded in 2025. Business-immigration lawyers note that “sensitive-location” protections are vital for multinational employers that host on-site vaccination clinics or language-training classes, venues that have occasionally been swept during recent enforcement surges.
In this fluid enforcement environment, VisaHQ can help companies and their globally mobile employees maintain compliance by tracking renewal windows, assembling application packets and offering real-time guidance through its online dashboard; more details are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-states/
Republicans have labelled the demands “obstructionist,” but several centrist GOP senators hinted they might accept narrower language on body cameras and independent review panels. Meanwhile, trade groups representing the tech, life-sciences and hospitality sectors are lobbying both parties to avoid a shutdown that could stall H-1B extensions, delay PERM audits and upend seasonal-worker hiring for the spring.
Human-resources teams should prepare template communications for foreign national staff, reminding them to carry hard-copy I-94s when travelling domestically—a best practice whenever federal databases such as SAVE and SEVIS risk downtime. Companies should also confirm that their legal vendors have contingency filing strategies if premium processing is suspended.
Whether or not the full list survives negotiations, employers should expect at least some new statutory constraints on ICE field tactics—changes that will alter audit preparation, work-site inspection protocols and overall mobility-risk management in 2026 and beyond.
