Rep. John Rose told Newsmax on Thursday that he is "skeptical" of a Republican-led plan backed by President Donald Trump to fund immigration enforcement through budget reconciliation, warning it could risk concessions to Democrats amid an ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding dispute.
"I will have to say I'm skeptical because I feel like we are continuing to let Democrats hold the American people hostage by not funding ICE and Customs and Border Protection," the Tennessee Republican said on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Early."
"This might work, but if this is a plan that ends up causing us to capitulate to Democrats and their holding the country and the American people hostage to protect illegal aliens, then I'm not for that," he added.
The plan calls for funding ICE and Border Patrol through budget reconciliation, allowing passage without Democratic votes.
The effort, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, aims to secure border enforcement funding by June 1, as demanded by Trump, amid the DHS funding dispute.
Rose said Democrats are likely to continue resisting GOP efforts.
"I think they'll continue to obstruct," Rose said. "Reconciliation, of course, is not an easy path forward. It is a way that we as Republicans could do this without Democratic votes."
He also raised concerns about a recent Senate funding measure.
"Passing the bill that the Senate gave us in the dark of night the last week as they left town is really deeply troubling because I think it, at least in the short term, puts us in a position where the law isn't providing the funding for ICE and border protection," Rose said.
Rose added that he would prefer the Senate return to Washington and take up the issue directly.
"I would favor the Senate coming back to town today and picking up the work and holding the Democrats' feet to the fire and making it clear to the American people that it's the Democrats who are refusing to fund ICE," he said.
Democrats have said they are withholding support for DHS funding unless certain policy changes are included. Rep. Ilhan Omar has said Democrats are seeking reforms before backing an appropriations bill.
Rose said those demands are aimed at limiting enforcement.
"I think their demands are really all aimed ultimately at stopping the president through the use of our forces like ICE," Rose said. "The Democrats want to continue the policies of former President Joe Biden that allowed millions to come into the country illegally."
He added that reconciliation could provide a workaround, but questioned whether it is the best approach.
"Reconciliation is a way that we could fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection with only Republican votes," Rose said. "But whether we want to rush through that now and do that as a way of funding the government, I think, is a fair question."
Rose also accused Democrats of prioritizing illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens.
"We see the Democrats continuing to put illegals ahead of American citizens," he said. "They're doing it to protect illegal immigrants who are in the country."
He said failure to pass funding through reconciliation could leave Republicans with limited options.
"If it can't be done, then we'll be capitulating to Democrats and falling victim to their demands that have put Americans in harm's way," Rose said.
GET TODAY NEWSMAX :
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!
Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.
You need to watch NEWSMAX today.
Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!
Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now
BEST OFFER:
Sign up for NEWSMAX and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.
Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.
Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!
Watch NEWSMAX on your smartphone or home TV app.
Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!
Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.