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A partial federal government shutdown appeared increasingly likely to begin Saturday as Senate Democrats demanded enforceable changes to immigration operations before supporting a spending package.
Federal funding expires at midnight Friday, and Republicans need Democratic votes to advance legislation covering the Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies. Democrats have pledged to block the measure unless Republicans and President Donald Trump agree to tighter rules for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agents.
The dispute follows the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents in Minneapolis this month, deaths that have intensified Democratic anger over the administration’s immigration-enforcement campaign.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that his caucus wants federal agents to end “roving patrols” in cities and coordinate immigration arrests with local law enforcement. Democrats are also seeking an enforceable code of conduct, visible identification and a requirement that agents keep their masks off and body cameras on.
“This is not law and order,” Schumer said of the enforcement surge. “This is chaos.”
Schumer described the proposals as commonsense reforms supported by the Democratic caucus and said Republicans now bear responsibility for accepting them.
Democrats seek changes written into law
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, the leading Democrat on the Senate subcommittee overseeing homeland security spending, said the proposed restrictions could unite both his party and the country.
“None of this is revolutionary,” Murphy said. “None of this requires a new comprehensive piece of legislation.”
Murphy and Schumer said the changes must be approved by Congress rather than offered as promises from the administration.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said he had been waiting for Democrats to specify their demands. He also suggested they should negotiate directly with the White House.
It remained uncertain how deeply the White House was involved or whether either side could reach an agreement capable of winning Democratic support. No clear negotiations were underway ahead of a critical Thursday vote on advancing the funding package.
Tight deadline complicates a deal
Republicans argue that changing the legislation would require another House vote. That would be difficult before Friday’s deadline because the House is not in legislative session this week.
“We can have conversations about what additional oversight is required, what additional laws we should consider, but not at the expense of shutting down the government,” Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn said.
The House passed the six remaining funding bills as a single package last week, complicating Democratic efforts to remove the homeland security portion. Senators could separate the bills with unanimous consent, but an objection from any senator could block that approach. The Senate could also pursue a longer series of votes, although that process would extend beyond the deadline.
House Republicans have signaled that they will resist any attempt to remove DHS funding. In a Tuesday letter to Trump, members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus expressed support for the president and ICE.
“The package will not come back through the House without funding for the Department of Homeland Security,” the lawmakers wrote.
Republican leaders had hoped to prevent another shutdown after the 43-day closure last fall, when Democrats sought an extension of federal subsidies that reduce Affordable Care Act marketplace premiums.
This time, Democrats insist they will hold their position.
“It is truly a moral moment,” Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal said. “I think we need to take a stand.”