# Cato Expert: DHS Shutdown Negotiations Miss the Mark on True ICE Reform 

True reform is not found in a body camera clip that stays buried on a federal server; it is found in a courtroom where an agent can be held personally accountable for overstepping the Constitution

March 18, 2026 • News Releases 

As components of the Department of Homeland Security remain shut down for the second consecutive month, the White House and Senate Democrats are negotiating reforms to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) as part of a deal to reopen the department.

As negotiations continue, the White House recently detailed five changes to ICE and CBP policies that it is willing to make. A recent [blog post](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fblog*2Fpinky-promise-problem-illusion-unenforceable-reforms/1/0100019d018f8a0a-7dff34b2-89e0-497d-b856-f34914f4ce10-000000/IIhuI8ZQstT8WmdciyVkULEuOgA=470___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjk1NjdlZWM2ZDM3ZjdjMDcwYjc1MmM5YjY4MGE2MmVjOjc6MjAwOTozN2E2ODZhZDk5NzQyMGJkNjUxMDdmZjZlYjdmZjAwZjlmYzAxZTU3OGFmMTRmMmRhOTI2NGFlZTkwZGFmNjliOmg6VDpO) by [Mike Fox](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:*2F*2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Fmike-fox/1/0100019d018f8a0a-7dff34b2-89e0-497d-b856-f34914f4ce10-000000/Nb1J1o30QVPrNyOwed-GbPSQttU=470___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjk1NjdlZWM2ZDM3ZjdjMDcwYjc1MmM5YjY4MGE2MmVjOjc6NTcxMzpiZjk0MjQ1MTM3NjJmODg4YTZkYmVjN2U4ZTFhZDBlZGZlZjY4OTcyYTQ3NzJjOWZmMTgzMzhhNmVlY2QwMDE3Omg6VDpO), a legal fellow at the Cato Institute, argues that true reforms are found in the courtroom, writing in part:

> *“True reform is not found in a body camera clip that stays buried on a federal server; it is found in a courtroom where an agent can be held personally accountable for overstepping the Constitution. Until a statutory path to the courthouse is on the table, the reforms being proposed by the White House and congressional Democrats alike are nothing more than political theater.”*

To speak with Fox further on reforms to ICE and CBP, contact [Christopher Tarvardian](mailto:ctarvardian@cato.org).

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