The often violent actions of the immigration authorities ICE and CBP, which began in January Death of two US citizens led to the next government shutdown in the USA. In contrast to last budget dispute In the fall it now only affects parts of the government. It is also assumed that an interim solution could be found in the next few days.
After the deadly confrontations between federal authorities and demonstrators in Minneapolis, Democrats threatened to paralyze important parts of the government if Republicans refused to stop the activities of ICE and CBP.
After days of negotiations, there was a compromise in the Senate. This secures funding for several agencies and gives members of Congress more time to discuss the required reforms. With a vote of 79 to 21, the Senate passed this compromise solution advocated by US President Donald Trump on Friday.
However, since the House of Representatives also has to approve the compromise and the previous budget plan to finance the affected authorities expired early Saturday morning, they are currently in a shutdown. The House of Representatives will not vote until Monday at the earliest.
The Department of Homeland Security is the stumbling block
The affected authorities include, among others, the Federal Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, Finance and Homeland Security. The latter is currently the stumbling block in the negotiations. In contrast to the other ministries, whose funding would be secured until the end of September, the compromise at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) only provides for a two-week extension of the current budget.
The reason is the immigration authorities ICE and CBP, which are subordinate to the ministry. Democrats are calling for the powers of ICE, whose officers are responsible for enforcing U.S. immigration laws, to be “curbed and overhauled.”
“The American people support law enforcement, they support border security, but they do not support ICE terrorizing our streets and killing American citizens,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said last week.
Despite the shutdown, deportation raids continue in Minnesota and other states. Trump’s massive tax and spending package last summer – the “Big Beautiful Bill” – provided an additional $170 billion for immigration and border protection issues. Democrats are currently not calling for an end to the raids, but rather more control, cooperation and competence.
Democrats demand ICE cooperation with local police
Schumer said Democrats would ask the administration to limit ICE checks in cities and force closer cooperation with local security authorities on immigration operations. The provisions for issuing arrest warrants should also be tightened.
At the same time, ICE officers who violate requirements and rules should be held more accountable. Schumer said officers should be required to remove their masks and always turn on their body cameras.
“The bottom line is that these lawless ICE agents should follow the same rules as your local police department. There has to be accountability,” said Minnesota Democratic Senator Tina Smith.
Some Republicans are also starting to think
The events of the last few weeks that led to the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration agents are giving Republicans pause.
“Enforcing our immigration laws makes our streets safer. It also protects our national security. (…) But we must also protect our core values as a nation, including the right to protest and freedom of assembly,” said Republican Senator Pete Ricketts.
Several Republicans are calling for independent investigations into the deadly incidents in Minneapolis and are pushing for congressional hearings with DHS officials. “It is unfortunate that we are losing out on the issue (immigration) where Republicans have traditionally taken the lead,” Thom told Tillis NPR.
In polls, a majority is in favor of abolishing ICE
Recent surveys have shown that A majority of Americans want to abolish ICE advocate. 61 percent also say that the… Tactics used by ICE go too far.
Nevertheless, many Republicans continue to stand united behind President Trump and DHS. “We will not stop ICE from doing its work. The American people wanted the president to enforce law and order, and ICE is doing just that,” said Republican Rep. Markwayne Mullin.
It is assumed that the compromise agreement from the Senate will also be quickly passed in the House of Representatives. That would mean the shutdown is over. However, it remains questionable whether two weeks are enough to reach an agreement on the reform of DHS and ICE.