The Senate remains deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with Republicans and Democrats at odds over immigration enforcement reforms. Republicans proposed legislation to restart most DHS operations except deportation activities, but Democrats rejected it, demanding new guardrails on immigration enforcement.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the Republican offer, saying it excluded reforms discussed in earlier negotiations. Democrats countered with a measure linking DHS funding to restrictions on immigration enforcement, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune criticised the proposal, urging Democrats to be serious.
The standoff has led to lengthy queues at airport security checkpoints, including at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and George Bush Intercontinental in Houston. President Trump deployed ICE agents to ease congestion, while Schumer blamed Republicans for disrupting talks that were nearing a compromise.
Democrats blocked the Republican proposal in a largely party-line vote, with only Senator John Fetterman crossing the aisle. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans plan to use a reconciliation bill to fund ICE enforcement and other priorities, potentially including voter ID requirements and military action against Iran.
The partial shutdown began in mid-February after Democrats refused to fund DHS without reforms following the deaths of two US citizens in Minneapolis at the hands of federal agents. The funding lapse has not affected ICE's deportation operations, which received billions under a previous reconciliation bill.
