Efforts to fund the Department of Homeland Security are faltering in the U.S. Senate after Democrats said they will block the bill in response to recent immigration enforcement actions, sharply increasing the risk of a partial government shutdown later this week.
According to Reuters, Senate Democratic leaders said over the weekend that they would withhold the votes needed to advance the Homeland Security funding measure unless significant changes are made, citing outrage over the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis man by federal immigration agents.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would not agree to proceed with a funding package that includes DHS "in its current form," arguing that Congress cannot approve billions in funding for immigration enforcement without stronger accountability, Reuters reported.
Funding at the Center of the Dispute
The Homeland Security funding bill would provide roughly $64 billion to DHS, including about $10 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to figures reported by The Associated Press. The bill is part of a broader appropriations package that must be approved before a Friday funding deadline to avoid a lapse in government operations.
Democrats have tied their opposition directly to recent enforcement actions, saying the administration's handling of immigration policing has raised serious concerns about oversight and the use of force. AP News reported that several Democratic senators said they would vote against advancing the bill unless DHS funding is reworked.
Republicans Push Back
Republicans have warned that blocking DHS funding could disrupt border security, immigration courts and counterterrorism operations. Senate Republicans argue the funding fight risks politicizing national security, according to The Wall Street Journal.
While some GOP lawmakers have called for investigations into the Minneapolis incident, Republican leaders have largely defended the funding package and urged Democrats to separate enforcement oversight from budget negotiations, the Journal reported.
Procedural Roadblocks Remain
Under Senate rules, the DHS funding bill requires 60 votes to advance, meaning Republicans need Democratic support. Without it, Senate leaders may be forced to consider short-term stopgap measures or allow parts of the government to shut down.
According to ABC News, lawmakers are discussing options such as breaking DHS funding out of the larger spending package or passing a temporary extension, though neither approach has secured bipartisan backing so far.
Shutdown Risk Increases
If Congress fails to act by the end of the week, funding for DHS and several other agencies would lapse, triggering a partial government shutdown, according to the Congressional Budget Office and reporting by Reuters. Essential services would continue, but thousands of federal workers could be furloughed.
The White House has urged Congress to pass the funding bill, saying DHS must remain fully operational, while Democrats insist accountability must come before approval.
As negotiations continue, the standoff has become one of the most significant tests of Congress's ability to pass must-fund legislation amid rising tensions over immigration enforcement.
