Democrats Block DHS Funding Over Shooting, Shutdown Looms

Senate Democrats have drawn a line in the sand on funding for the Department of Homeland Security. They say they will block a key spending package unless DHS money is removed, following the shooting death of a Minneapolis resident by an ICE agent. This stand comes just days before current government funding runs out at midnight on Friday, putting the nation on edge for another partial shutdown.

Background

The trouble started earlier this month in Minneapolis. An ICE agent shot and killed Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old local resident. This was not the first such incident there. Just days ago, another person died in a shooting involving immigration agents. These events have sparked outrage among Democrats, who point to what they see as a pattern of unchecked violence by federal agents.

President Donald Trump reacted strongly to the first shooting. He threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to send military troops to Minnesota. That move added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it shows a lack of trust in local law enforcement. Democrats have long called for changes to how ICE operates, including better training and more oversight. They argue that undertrained agents are clashing with communities and putting people at risk.

Congress has been working on a package of six spending bills to keep government agencies running. These cover big parts of the federal budget, from defense to health services. The House passed the package on Thursday with votes from only a handful of Democrats. But in the Senate, Republicans need at least 60 votes to move it forward. With Democrats holding firm, that number looks out of reach.

This is not the first funding fight this year. Back in the fall, a 43-day shutdown gripped the country over similar disputes. Some Democrats who helped end that one now say they cannot back DHS funding again without reforms.

Key Details

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made the party's position clear in a statement on Saturday. He said Democrats will not provide the votes needed if the package includes DHS funding. Schumer plans to vote no himself.

"Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included," Schumer said.

Other senators echoed his words. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, who often sides with keeping government funded, broke ranks this time.

"The Trump Administration and Kristi Noem are putting undertrained, combative federal agents on the streets with no accountability," Cortez Masto said. "They are oppressing Americans and are at odds with local law enforcement. This is clearly not about keeping Americans safe, it’s brutalizing U.S. citizens and law abiding immigrants. I will not support the current Homeland Security funding bill."

Senator Jacky Rosen, who voted to end the last shutdown, also said no to DHS money.

"As a member of the U.S. Senate, I have the responsibility to hold the Trump administration accountable when I see abuses of power –– like we are seeing from ICE right now," Rosen said. "That is why I’ll be voting against any government funding package that contains the bill that funds this agency, until we have guardrails in place to curtail these abuses of power and ensure more accountability and transparency."

Senator Brian Schatz, a top Democratic whip, joined in.

"I am voting against funding for DHS until and unless more controls are put in place to hold ICE accountable," Schatz said. "These repeated incidents of violence across the country are unlawful, needlessly escalatory and making all of us less safe."

More than half of the 47 Senate Democrats have now pledged to oppose the package. Some, like Senators Chris Murphy and Alex Padilla, have been working behind the scenes to rally votes against it for days. House Democrats plan a private call on Sunday to talk strategy after the latest shooting.

Timeline of Events

• Earlier this month: ICE agent kills Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. Trump threatens troops.
• Thursday: House passes six-bill package with minimal Democratic support.
• Saturday: Second shooting in Minneapolis. Schumer and others announce opposition.
• Sunday: Democrats hold strategy calls. Senate delayed by winter storm until Tuesday.
• Friday: Funding deadline hits at midnight.

Republicans face tough choices. They could try to pull the DHS bill from the package and pass the rest. But that would need full Senate agreement, which seems unlikely. Sending changes back to the House means more delays, and lawmakers there are already on break.

What This Means

A partial shutdown would hit hard. Agencies like the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and others would lose funding. National parks might close, federal workers could go unpaid, and services would slow. This package funds about 96 percent of the disputed budget, so the impact would be widespread but not total.

Democrats suggest passing the other five bills right away while sorting out DHS separately. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island said he would back short-term DHS funding to allow time for ICE reforms. Cortez Masto pushed the same idea, noting broad agreement on most of the budget.

But Republicans say it's on Democrats to avoid the shutdown. They do not plan to call the House back early. Some Democrats admit the path forward is unclear. Senator Chris Coons, who works on spending bills, expressed doubts about whether a short-term fix would work better.

Pressure is building from outside too. Democratic candidates and activists urge no votes for DHS funding. One Michigan Senate hopeful asked how many more shootings it would take.

The House Homeland Security Committee wants ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and immigration services leaders to testify soon. That could shed light on training and rules for agents.

With the Senate out until Tuesday and talks ongoing, the clock is ticking. Democrats want accountability for agents on the streets. Republicans want steady funding without what they see as political games. The next few days will show if they can find common ground or if lights start going out in Washington.