A prolonged deadlock between US lawmakers over immigration enforcement threatens to ensnare the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a partial government shutdown beginning Saturday, following two fatal shootings in Minneapolis.
“For weeks, we’ve been pushing commonsense reforms,” said Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Republican-controlled Senate, ahead of a partial shutdown set to take effect after midnight Friday into Saturday.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt placed the blame on the opposition, telling Fox News that “Democrats are barreling our government towards another shutdown for political and partisan reasons.”
Democrats oppose any new funding for DHS until major changes are implemented in the way Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — the agency enforcing President Donald Trump’s migrant crackdown — conducts its operations.
They are demanding curtailed patrols, a ban on ICE agents wearing facemasks during operations, and a requirement that they obtain a judicial warrant to enter private property.
“Donald Trump and Republicans have decided that they have zero interest in getting ICE under control,” said Hakeem Jeffries on Friday.
“Dramatic changes are needed. Absent that, Republicans have decided to shut down parts of the federal government,” Jeffries added.
Democrats’ opposition to ICE and its tactics grew after the January deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two US citizens shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis amid protests over deportation operations.
“Democrats will not support a blank cheque for chaos,” Schumer said.
Democratic votes needed
“Taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not brutalise or kill them,” Jeffries said, noting that violence occurs “whenever these masked and untrained ICE agents show up.”
Even if all 53 Republican senators vote to fund DHS, Senate rules require support from 60 of 100 members to advance the budget bill, meaning several Democrats would need to join.
In response, the White House said it is ready to negotiate.
“The White House has been very much engaged with Democrats in serious discussions and negotiations over immigration enforcement policy,” Leavitt said.
John Thune called it “an extremely serious offer” and said Democrats are “never going to get their full wish list.”
But “half-measures will not cut it,” said Senate Democrat Patty Murray, adding that her party’s demands are reasonable and necessary.
Airports impacted?
If no deal is reached, thousands of civil servants could be furloughed, while thousands more will have to work without pay until a budget agreement is finalised.
ICE would continue operations using funds already approved by Congress last year.
John Fetterman argued that “this shutdown literally has zero impact on ICE.”
The primary effects would hit other agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), responsible for emergency responses to natural disasters.
The Transportation Security Administration, which oversees airport security, warned on X that a prolonged shutdown could lead to longer wait times and cancelled flights.
This would mark the third shutdown of Trump’s second term, following a record 43-day government closure last October and November.
