WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are making moves this week to reopen the Department of Homeland Security and put an end to the ongoing partial government shutdown that has lasted longer than any in history. They plan to hold votes as early as Tuesday, seeking a workaround to unlock funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. This funding has been blocked by Democrats since mid-February, who are calling for policy changes in response to recent fatal shootings involving federal agents.
The GOP's strategy involves using budget reconciliation, a method that allows them to pass funding with a simple majority, bypassing the need for 60 votes in the Senate. However, Democrats argue that the effort is merely a partisan tactic that fails to impose necessary restraints on what they term as 'rogue agencies.'
With temporary funding nearing exhaustion and negotiations stalled, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has emphasized that Republicans can no longer afford to delay.
The newly proposed resolution, estimated at $70 billion to fund ICE and Border Patrol through the end of Trump's term, faces complexities as Republicans hope to keep it narrowly focused. However, various factions within the party are eager to attach additional provisions, raising doubts on how smoothly the reconciliation process will unfold. Democratic leaders accuse Republicans of neglecting reforms necessary to hold federal immigration authorities accountable, highlighting a divisive landscape as both parties gear up for an election year battle.
The GOP's strategy involves using budget reconciliation, a method that allows them to pass funding with a simple majority, bypassing the need for 60 votes in the Senate. However, Democrats argue that the effort is merely a partisan tactic that fails to impose necessary restraints on what they term as 'rogue agencies.'
With temporary funding nearing exhaustion and negotiations stalled, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has emphasized that Republicans can no longer afford to delay.
The newly proposed resolution, estimated at $70 billion to fund ICE and Border Patrol through the end of Trump's term, faces complexities as Republicans hope to keep it narrowly focused. However, various factions within the party are eager to attach additional provisions, raising doubts on how smoothly the reconciliation process will unfold. Democratic leaders accuse Republicans of neglecting reforms necessary to hold federal immigration authorities accountable, highlighting a divisive landscape as both parties gear up for an election year battle.
