The Department of Homeland Security is headed for an imminent shutdown starting this weekend after Senate Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a deal to curb immigration enforcement.
After failing to strike a deal, lawmakers in the Senate and House were set to leave Washington for a 10-day recess.
A partial shutdown of DHS will take place starting Saturday after two fatal shootings in Minneapolis.
“We’ve been pushing for common sense reforms for weeks,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the House Republicans, said ahead of a partial shutdown that will take effect after midnight Friday.
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His party opposes any new funding for DHS until major changes are made to the way Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — the powerful agency working to implement President Donald Trump’s crackdown on migrants — conducts its operations.
In particular, they are calling for restrictions on roaming patrols, a ban on ICE agents wearing masks during operations, and the use of a warrant to enter private property.
Democratic opposition to ICE and its heavy-handed tactics has intensified since the January deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two U.S. citizens shot by federal agents in Minneapolis while protesting anti-immigration operations.
Lawmakers are pushing for more accountability for ICE agents, including upholding the reasonable use of force standards already on the books.
“Democrats will not support a blank check for chaos,” Schumer said.
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“Half Measures”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed similar concerns Thursday, warning that ICE is “completely and completely out of control.”
“Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not to brutalize or kill,” he said, stressing that violence occurs “whenever these masked and untrained ICE agents appear on the scene.”
Even if all 53 Republican senators will vote to fund DHS, Senate rules require support from 60 of 100 members to pass a budget bill, meaning several opposition Democrats would have to get on board.
Responding to Democratic demands, the White House said it was ready to negotiate and sent a counter-proposal late Wednesday.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune called it an “extremely serious offer” and said Democrats “will never get their full wish list.”
The opposition unequivocally rejected the compromise.
“Half measures won’t cut it,” said Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat, adding that her party’s demands are reasonable and necessary.
Airport and others affected
If no deal is reached, thousands of state workers could be laid off, while thousands more will have to work without pay – until a budget deal is finalised.
But ICE would be able to keep operating during the partial shutdown because of funding already approved by Congress last year.
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Therefore, the primary impact would be on other agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which oversees emergency responses to natural disasters.
The Transportation Security Administration, which runs airport security, warned at X that a longer shutdown could have “significant” consequences, including staff exhaustion, longer wait times and delayed and canceled flights.
The shutdown would be Trump’s third in his second term, including a record 43-day government shutdown last October and November.
Key things
- A potential DHS shutdown could significantly affect emergency services such as FEMA and TSA operations.
- Democrats are demanding reforms to ICE’s operations before agreeing to additional funding.
- The legislative gridlock could lead to delays for state employees and operational problems for critical agencies.