Senate Pushes ICE And Border Patrol Funding Plan As Homeland Security Shutdown Stretches On
The Senate took a key step early Thursday toward reopening the Department of Homeland Security, approving a budget plan that would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol over Democratic objections and sending the measure to the House.
The vote came just after 3:30 a.m. following an overnight session, passing 50 to 48 as Republicans moved forward with a strategy aimed at restoring funding for immigration enforcement agencies while negotiations with Democrats remain stalled.
The department has been partially shut down since mid February after Democrats blocked funding, demanding policy changes following the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents. Lawmakers have pointed to the incidents as a reason to push for additional oversight and reforms to immigration enforcement practices.
Republicans have rejected those conditions, instead advancing a narrower funding approach focused specifically on ICE and Border Patrol through the budget reconciliation process, which allows passage with a simple majority and avoids the need for bipartisan support.
“It’s not my preference, but it is reality,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said, describing the decision to move forward without Democratic backing.
Democrats Oppose Funding Without Accountability Measures
Democratic leaders have argued that any funding measure should include limits on how federal immigration agencies operate, including requirements for better identification of officers and greater use of judicial warrants.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the Republican approach, calling it a “partisan sideshow” and warning that the resolution would direct billions toward immigration enforcement without safeguards.
“After the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, people across the country demanded ICE be reined in,” Sen. Patty Murray said. “But instead of working with Democrats to enact real reform, Republicans rejected the most basic accountability measures, and now they’re rushing to give ICE billions of dollars more.”
House Path Forward Remains Uncertain
The legislation now moves to the House, where its future remains unclear. Speaker Mike Johnson has not said when lawmakers will take up the Senate’s proposal, which is focused on funding ICE and Border Patrol while leaving broader Department of Homeland Security funding unresolved.
Some House Republicans have signaled they want to expand the bill to include additional priorities, raising questions about whether the conference can unite behind the narrower approach passed by the Senate.
“We’ll figure this out,” Johnson said ahead of the Senate vote. “We’ve got lots of discussion today and in the coming days to make sure we can get that through and I think we will.”
