The US Senate voted 52–47 on Thursday to reject a bill that would have funded the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to keep it running. The vote means the government agency could face a partial shutdown by the end of the week unless lawmakers reach a new deal in time.
Democrats blocked the measure as it did not include new limits on how immigration agents operate under President Donald Trump’s enforcement crackdown. The funding bill would have extended DHS operations through September, but Democrats said they would only agree if the legislation added stronger rules on arrests, identification, and use-of-force by federal immigration officers.
Earlier in the day, the administration attempted to ease tensions. Tom Homan, the border czar, announced that the government would pull immigration agents out of Minnesota and end its crackdown there, following public outrage after agents shot and killed two American citizens in Minneapolis last month. But Democrats argued that this change was not enough.
“Abuses cannot be solved merely through executive fiat,” said Senator Chuck Schumer of New York. “What Tom Homan says today could be reversed tomorrow,” he added.
With both sides still far apart, a partial shutdown of DHS now appears almost certain, marking the third government disruption in five months, according to New York Times report.
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Republican leaders urged Democrats to accept at least a short-term extension, saying talks were making progress and the administration had offered “reasonable good-faith” limits on enforcement. “These discussions need to continue,” said Senator John Thune, the majority leader. “We ought to keep the government open.”
But Democrats said they would not approve any funding, whether short-term or long-term, unless Congress added major reforms to the way immigration agents operate. Their demands included stopping officers from wearing masks that hide their identities and requiring all agents to display visible identification at all times.
Democrats also want stricter rules for home arrests, arguing that officers should only be allowed to enter a residence if they have a warrant signed by a judge.
In addition, they are pushing for tougher use-of-force guidelines and new nationwide training standards for immigration officers. Another key demand is ending roving patrols, which Democrats say often lead to abusive or unnecessary encounters with the public. They said that without these changes written clearly into law, any promises from the administration could be reversed at any moment.
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