Washington — The Senate on Thursday blocked a measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security, increasing the likelihood of another partial government shutdown when funding expires at 12 a.m. Saturday. The impasse centers on Democratic demands for significant changes to immigration enforcement policies.
Shutdown Looms as DHS Funding Stalls in Senate
In a 52-47 vote, nearly all Democrats opposed advancing the bill, which would have funded DHS through September. Sixty votes were needed for the motion to succeed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota voted against the motion as a procedural maneuver, preserving the option to bring it up for another vote.
- Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is set to lapse at midnight Saturday.
- Democrats are demanding reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as a condition for their support.
- The White House has offered a legislative proposal, but Democrats have deemed it insufficient.
- Senators are scheduled to leave town for recess, complicating efforts to reach a last-minute agreement.
While a shutdown is looming, operations at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would likely continue uninterrupted, as those agencies received substantial funding in previous legislation.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, explained his caucus’s opposition, stating the bill “fails to make any progress on reining in ICE and stopping the violence.”
White House Proposal Falls Short, Democrats Say
Senate Republicans are now expected to propose a vote on a continuing resolution, which would maintain current funding levels for DHS for several weeks, buying time for further negotiations. However, the path forward remains uncertain as Democrats and Republicans remain divided on key issues.
The White House submitted a legislative proposal for full-year funding late Wednesday, following an earlier draft bill from Democrats. Democratic leaders quickly rejected the initial White House offer, characterizing it as “incomplete and insufficient.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, echoed those concerns Thursday, stating his “preliminary assessment” of the latest offer was that it “falls short of the type of dramatic changes necessary in order to change ICE’s out-of-control behavior.”
What specific changes are Democrats seeking? They are pushing for restrictions on immigration agents, including a ban on masks, requirements for visible identification and body cameras, and standardized uniforms. Other demands include prohibiting racial profiling, requiring warrants for entering private property, and barring enforcement at sensitive locations like medical facilities and schools.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged the progress, telling reporters Thursday morning that the White House’s latest offer was “pretty close” to reaching an “agreement zone.” He added, “I think it’s up to the Dems to react to this. Right now, at least there ought to be an understanding that these discussions need to continue, and that a solution is at least in sight.”
Recess Complicates Negotiations
However, the looming Senate recess complicates matters. Senators are scheduled to depart after Thursday, returning next week. Thune indicated he doesn’t see a benefit to keeping senators in Washington while talks continue, stating, “If and when there’s a breakthrough, we’ll make sure people are here to vote on it.” He added that senators would be expected to return within 24 hours if a deal is reached.
Beyond ICE and CBP, the Department of Homeland Security also oversees the Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA, all of which would be affected by a funding lapse. Operations at ICE and CBP are expected to continue due to funds allocated through last year’s legislation.
This latest impasse follows a four-day partial government shutdown earlier this month, which was resolved by funding all agencies except DHS until the end of the fiscal year, with DHS funding extended for two weeks to allow for negotiations. The shooting death of Alex Pretti by immigration agents in Minneapolis last month spurred the current Democratic push for ICE reforms, as outlined in a letter to GOP counterparts last week.
