Democrats are withholding support for a newly negotiated Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding deal, insisting on reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite the agency being excluded from the proposal. The agreement, brokered by Senate Republicans, would immediately fund 94% of DHS, leaving ICE’s removal operations (ERO) unfunded while allocating resources to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Negotiations at an Impasse
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized Democrats' stance, stating, 'We will fund crucial agencies like TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and CISA immediately, but any funding for ICE or CBP must include significant guardrails to rein them in.' Democrats have submitted a counterproposal demanding reforms to ICE’s use-of-force policies and additional funding for body cameras, among other measures.
'The current Republican offer does not meet our demands for ICE reform,' Schumer said on Tuesday.
Republicans, however, dismissed the counteroffer as unrealistic. Senator James Lankford called it 'not real,' while Majority Leader John Thune accused Democrats of 'going in circles' by reintroducing previously rejected demands.
Impact of the Shutdown
The partial government shutdown, now in its 40th day, is nearing the record for the longest in U.S. history. Essential DHS agencies, including Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), remain unfunded, leading to chaotic conditions at airports nationwide.
Senator Tim Kaine urged immediate action, stating, 'Let’s fund everything and continue the ICE reform discussion.' However, Democrats remain cautious, fearing that partial funding of ICE could undermine their reform efforts.
With DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin pledging to uphold legal protections for sensitive locations, Democrats seek to codify these commitments in legislative text. Until ICE reforms are addressed, the funding impasse threatens to prolong the shutdown further.