In brief
Senate leaders are in urgent negotiations to secure a bipartisan spending deal that separates funding for the Department of Homeland Security. This comes as Democrats push for significant reforms to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, prompted by recent protests and the deaths of two individuals during federal operations. As the midnight deadline approaches, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer are working to address objections that could delay the bill, emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation to avoid a government shutdown.
Senate leaders were scrambling to save a bipartisan spending deal and avert a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday as Democrats have demanded new restrictions on federal immigration raids across the country. Republicans and Democrats have come together to get the vast majority of the government funded until September while extending current funding for Homeland Security, Trump said in a social media post Thursday evening. He encouraged members of both parties to cast a much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ vote. Democrats have laid out several demands, such as ending roving patrols, coordinating with local law enforcement on immigration arrests, and holding ICE agents accountable when they violate rules. What ICE is doing, outside the law, is state-sanctioned thuggery and it must stop, Schumer stated. As negotiations continue, the possibility of a government shutdown looms, with Democrats unified following the recent fatalities linked to ICE operations. Meanwhile, Republicans express openness to discussions about reforms while holding firm on their immigration policies. The package will not come back through the House without funding for the Department of Homeland Security, noted the conservative House Freedom Caucus.
