Democrats vow to oppose homeland security funding bill. That increases the chance of a shutdown

Democratic senators have drawn a line in the sand, pledging to oppose a Department of Homeland Security funding bill following the fatal shooting of a Minnesota man by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. The stance significantly increases the likelihood of a partial government shutdown by week’s end.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer declared the situation in Minnesota “appalling” in a social media post Saturday night, hours after the incident. “Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included,” he stated firmly.

The political standoff comes at a critical juncture in the federal budget process. While President Trump has signed six of the 12 annual spending bills for the current budget year, six more await Senate action. If lawmakers fail to approve these remaining bills by midnight Friday, funding for the affected agencies will lapse.

Republican legislators need Democratic support to pass the remaining appropriations package in time to avoid disruption of government services. That cooperation was already tenuous after Renee Good, a mother of three, was fatally shot earlier this month by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Saturday’s shooting of Alex Pretti, an intensive care unit nurse, prompted Democrats to take an even more resolute position.

“Democrats sought common sense reforms in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill, but because of Republicans’ refusal to stand up to President Trump, the DHS bill is woefully inadequate to rein in the abuses of ICE,” explained Schumer. “I will vote no.”

Senator Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee and a key negotiator on the funding package, had previously encouraged her colleagues to support the homeland security bill. She had argued that Democrats successfully prevented major increases to ICE’s budget. However, Murray reversed course following the shooting, declaring on social media: “I will NOT support the DHS bill as it stands. Federal agents cannot murder people in broad daylight and face zero consequences.”

Federal officials have defended both shootings as justified, but Democrats point to video evidence suggesting otherwise. Even some Republicans are calling for thorough investigations into the incidents.

“The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing,” said Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) in a social media post. “The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake. There must be a full joint federal and state investigation. We can trust the American people with the truth.”

Similarly, Senator Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) called for a “thorough and impartial investigation” and criticized any rush to judgment that might impede a complete inquiry.

However, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) urged Democrats to reconsider their opposition to DHS funding and work with Republicans to address issues related to sanctuary city policies. “Now is not the time to defund one of our major national security priorities: border protection,” Graham stated.

The Democratic pushback places Senate Republican leadership in a difficult position. Much of the government operates under a short-term funding bill that expires Friday. GOP leaders had hoped to avoid another shutdown after last fall’s 43-day closure, which centered on Democrats’ insistence on extending federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage.

Prior to Pretti’s death, many Democrats seemed willing to support most of the remaining appropriations bills, with DHS being the notable exception. However, the House sent all six funding bills to the Senate as a package, making it exceedingly difficult to separate the homeland security portion as Democrats are demanding.

The path forward remains unclear. Senate sessions are postponed until Tuesday due to winter weather, while the House plans to be out of session this week entirely. If the funding package is modified, the House would need to reconvene and approve the changes.

Democrats are pushing for policy amendments to the homeland security spending bill that would require ICE agents to use warrants for immigration arrests, strengthen training requirements, mandate agent identification, and keep Border Patrol agents stationed at the border rather than assisting with interior immigration enforcement.

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the homeland security funding subcommittee, told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that Congress cannot fund a department “that is murdering American citizens, that is traumatizing little boys and girls across the country in violation of the law.”

Democratic senators held an emergency conference call Sunday evening to coordinate their response, while House Democrats convened their own caucus call with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and the state’s Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Several Democratic senators who had previously helped Republicans end last year’s shutdown now say they will vote against homeland security funding. “The abuses of power we are seeing from ICE in Minneapolis and across the country are un-American and cannot be normalized,” stated Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada.

Should lawmakers fail to reach an agreement, the impact would be limited to agencies awaiting funding approval. Critical government functions funded through previously approved bills would continue operating through the end of the fiscal year in September. However, other essential government operations would face disruption until the funding impasse is resolved.