Krishnamoorthi: I’m Not Voting for DHS Money, But ICE, CBP Can Still Do Operations

February 18, 2026
4:51 am

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Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) just dropped a bombshell on Bloomberg’s “Balance of Power,” declaring he won’t vote for a dime of DHS funding without major changes—yet slyly admitting that ICE and CBP operations could still ramp up anyway. It’s the kind of political jujitsu that exposes the hypocrisy in the open-borders crowd: block the budget publicly to score points with the progressive base, but let the enforcement agencies keep humming along on existing funds or reprogrammed dollars. This isn’t just budget theater; it’s a tacit nod that border security can’t be fully defunded without chaos, even from a squad-adjacent Democrat like Krishnamoorthi, who’s long pushed for gun control measures that mirror the same selective enforcement mindset. For the 2A community, this is a flashing red light on the road to federal overreach. DHS isn’t just about immigration—its sprawling bureaucracy includes ATF oversight, fusion centers that flag “domestic extremists” (often code for gun owners), and surveillance tech that’s increasingly aimed at tracking private firearm purchases or militia watchlists. Krishnamoorthi’s stance signals that even amid funding fights, these agencies retain operational muscle to pursue their agendas, from Operation Lone Star pushback to ramped-up FFL inspections. Remember, it was DHS under Biden that amplified “threat” narratives tying 2A advocates to border chaos, justifying more red-flag laws and universal background checks. If ICE and CBP can “resume operations” sans new cash, expect ATF raids and warrantless data grabs to do the same—proving once again that defunding the deep state is a pipe dream without slashing the whole beast. The implication? 2A patriots need to double down on state-level nullification and sheriff-first strategies, because federal gamesmanship like this won’t stop the slow boil toward confiscation. Krishnamoorthi’s confession is a gift: it reveals the strings are still pulled from D.C., budget or no. Stay vigilant, stock up legally, and vote like your AR-15 depends on it—because in this borderless funding farce, it just might.

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For the 2A community, this is a flashing red light on the road to federal overreach. DHS isn’t just about immigration—its sprawling bureaucracy includes ATF oversight, fusion centers that flag “domestic extremists” (often code for gun owners), and surveillance tech that’s increasingly aimed at tracking private firearm purchases or militia watchlists. Krishnamoorthi’s stance signals that even amid funding fights, these agencies retain operational muscle to pursue their agendas, from Operation Lone Star pushback to ramped-up FFL inspections. Remember, it was DHS under Biden that amplified “threat” narratives tying 2A advocates to border chaos, justifying more red-flag laws and universal background checks. If ICE and CBP can “resume operations” sans new cash, expect ATF raids and warrantless data grabs to do the same—proving once again that defunding the deep state is a pipe dream without slashing the whole beast.

The implication? 2A patriots need to double down on state-level nullification and sheriff-first strategies, because federal gamesmanship like this won’t stop the slow boil toward confiscation. Krishnamoorthi’s confession is a gift: it reveals the strings are still pulled from D.C., budget or no. Stay vigilant, stock up legally, and vote like your AR-15 depends on it—because in this borderless funding farce, it just might.

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