House passes immigration and border enforcement funding package as Democrats renew opposition to FISA renewal

The House passed a bill to fund immigration and border enforcement agencies on Tuesday, moving the package to President Trump after the Senate approved it last week, according to a conversation reported by PBS NewsHour Politics with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Jeffries, a New York Democrat, tied the legislation’s timing to a separate, pending fight in Congress over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, which governs certain forms of intelligence surveillance with judicial and congressional oversight. In the PBS interview, Jeffries said Democrats are united in opposing the FISA-related effort.

The dispute over FISA has intensified as lawmakers weigh whether to renew expiring surveillance authorities and whether the renewal should be linked to other national security measures. Jeffries told Geoff Bennett that House Democrats’ opposition is rooted in how the renewal effort would proceed and in the broader direction of the intelligence policy being pursued.

Separately, Jeffries also criticized President Trump’s reported selection of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence. In comments discussed in the interview, Jeffries used the phrase “deeply unqualified” to describe Pulte’s suitability to lead U.S. intelligence efforts.

Jeffries’ objections echoed concerns raised by other Democrats in recent days about political influence and qualifications for a top intelligence role, with critics arguing that the appointment could complicate congressional work related to surveillance law renewal.

In the interview, Bennett and Jeffries discussed how Congress is approaching the remaining legislative steps before the surveillance authorities come up for action. The timing of the immigration and border enforcement funding vote and the separate FISA fight underscores how Congress is managing overlapping national security and public safety priorities.

With the immigration and border package already cleared by both chambers, the focus for lawmakers shifts to what happens next on the FISA question. The House action does not resolve the surveillance renewal debate, and Democrats’ stated opposition suggests negotiations, hearings, and additional floor activity may follow depending on what bill text ultimately reaches the floor and the terms tied to renewal.