As the partial government shutdown stretches into its second month, Democrats are urging lawmakers to address the significant funding gaps at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is central to President Trump’s immigration policies.
There are concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) might remain underfunded. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse commented, “Yes, we plan to make all department functions transparent, except for ICE.” He further noted that “Republicans won’t agree because they seem to be holding our national security hostage.”
California Representative Ro Khanna echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that funding should encompass everything but ICE, which he pointed out already received substantial funding—around $75 billion—through Trump’s previous initiatives.
Republicans argue that Democrats are in a precarious position by continuing to obstruct efforts to fund the entire DHS. Representative Brian Mast from Florida expressed his frustration, stating, “It feels like they’re using the shutdown to try and influence ICE and Border Patrol, but those entities aren’t even impacted by this shutdown. They already have funding from earlier legislation.” He sarcastically remarked, “How long can we expect the Democrats to keep lying? Forever.”
Since the shutdown began, there have been increasing calls for partial funding. The situation has been exacerbated by a series of domestic incidents that have raised concerns about national security preparedness, such as a car crash at a synagogue in Michigan and mass shootings in Virginia and Texas.
The funding for DHS expired on February 14, after Democrats refused a spending bill that didn’t include their demands for reforms in ICE practices. They want stricter rules on ICE operations, including bans on masks for officers and tighter constraints on arrests in public spaces. Republicans have dismissed these requests, seeing them as impediments to enforcing Trump’s immigration agenda.
In the Senate, a minimum of seven Democrats is needed to clear the 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster, with Republicans only holding 53 seats. Amid ongoing negotiations, some Democrats are advocating for immediate funding for other critical parts of DHS, such as TSA and FEMA, while discussions about ICE continue.
Senator Richard Blumenthal proposed an alternative, indicating enthusiasm for approving vital funding that was previously rejected by Republicans. “There’s a straightforward solution available,” he stated.
