GOP’s filibuster-proof bill to fund ICE expected in Senate early next week

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is moving forward with a reconciliation bill to fund federal immigration enforcement and plans a vote next week.

The filibuster-proof legislation would only fund U.S. Immigration, Customs and Border Patrol for the remainder of President Trump’s term, denying Democrats a reason to shut down the rest of the Department of Homeland Security.

A bill intended to finance the rest of the DHS, partially closed since February 14.

Mr. Thune, Republican of South Dakota, said the small package had not satisfied everyone at his conference.

“We have members who want something else,” he told reporters at the Capitol. “But obviously we have a specific mission and goal here, which is to ensure that these important agencies of our government that have vital functions as it relates to our homeland and our national security are funded.”

“It’s a narrow, specific goal. And I hope that if we can achieve it here in the Senate, the House will be able to follow through on it,” he said.

Mr. Thune blamed Democrats who blocked DHS funds because they opposed Mr. Trump’s mass deportation agenda and wanted to impose restrictions on federal immigration agents.

“It’s shameful what Democrats have done to the Department of Homeland Security. They have now, twice in the last year, forced people within the department to go without pay for extended periods of time,” Thune said.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, said House Republicans could “fix” the shutdown immediately by approving the Senate-passed bill that funds all of DHS except immigration enforcement.

“Republicans could solve this problem today. Democrats have twice passed bipartisan funding for the parts of DHS that protect Americans every day,” Schumer told reporters Tuesday at the Capitol.

“Why did Republicans block it? Because Donald Trump and Stephen Miller told them, instead of reopening DHS and meeting the expectations of the American people, Republicans are dragging the Senate into a partisan circus just to avoid basic accountability for ICE and Border Patrol.”

Mr. Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, met at the Capitol on Monday to figure out the best way to end the shutdown.

They struggled to gain support from their conference for such a narrowly focused program.

Sen. Rick Scott of Florida on Monday insisted on spending cuts to offset new enforcement funding, and Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana wants parts of the voter ID bill, known as the SAVE America Act, to be inserted into legislation.

On the House side, Republican lawmakers have their own ideas on the reconciliation bill, which only needs a simple majority to pass the Senate.

Rep. Chip Roy, Republican of Texas, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, said Mr. Thune “is not the only voice” on the issue of reconciliation.

“We should move other priorities with ALL DHS,” he said on social media. “We are running out of time to deliver and clean up this repeated damage to the marshes. »