A prolonged impasse between US congressional Republicans and Democrats over immigration enforcement threatened to ensnare the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a partial government shutdown beginning today, following two fatal shootings in Minneapolis.
“For weeks, we’ve been pushing commonsense reforms,” US Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer said ahead of a partial shutdown that was to go into effect after midnight yesterday.
His party opposes any new funding for DHS until major changes are implemented in the way US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — the agency working to carry out US President Donald Trump’s migrant crackdown — conducts its operations.
Photo: Bloomberg
In particular, they demand curtailed roaming patrols, a ban on ICE agents wearing facemasks during operations and the use of a judicial warrant to enter private property.
Democrats’ opposition to ICE and its heavy-handed tactics swelled after federal agents in Minneapolis killed two US citizens protesting anti-immigration operations.
The lawmakers are seeking greater accountability for ICE agents, including upholding reasonable use-of-force standards already on the books.
“Democrats will not support a blank check for chaos,” Schumer said.
US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed similar concerns, warning that ICE was “completely and totally out of control.”
“Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not brutalize or kill them,” he said, adding that violence was occurring “whenever these masked and untrained ICE agents show up on the scene.”
Even if all 53 Republican senators vote to fund DHS, US Senate rules require support from 60 of the 100 members to advance the budget bill, meaning several opposition Democrats would need to get on board.
In response to the Democrats’ demands, the White House said it was ready to negotiate and sent a counterproposal on Wednesday.
US Senate Majority Leader John Thune called it “an extremely serious offer” and said Democrats are “never going to get their full wish list.”
The opposition rejected the compromise outright.
“Half-measures will not cut it,” Democratic Senator Patty Murray said, adding that her party’s demands were reasonable and necessary.
If no deal is reached, thousands of civil servants could be furloughed, while thousands more would be required to work without pay until a budget deal is finalized.
ICE would be able to maintain operations during a partial shutdown, because of funds already approved by the US Congress last year.
The primary impact would therefore land on other agencies, including the US Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees emergency response to natural disasters.
The US Transportation Security Administration, which runs airport safety, said a prolonged shutdown could result in “significant” consequences including staff attrition, longer wait times, and delayed and cancelled flights.
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