Negotiators from the White House and Senate Democratic leaders are reportedly close to a compromise that could break the current impasse. Democrats want stricter limits on how federal immigration agencies operate before they will agree to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The standoff stems from widespread outrage following the shooting death of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis during a recent immigration enforcement action. Senate Democrats argue that the DHS funding bill should be restructured to include new restrictions on ICE and Border Patrol. Among the changes they have proposed are clearer identification rules for agents, body-camera requirements, and stricter limits on warrantless enforcement operations.
Under the evolving proposal, five of the six spending bills could be passed by the Friday deadline, while the DHS bill would get a short-term extension to allow additional talks on immigration enforcement changes. President Trump and some lawmakers have signalled cautious optimism that such a move could avert a shutdown.
If no agreement is reached, a partial government shutdown could begin at 12:01 a.m. on Friday. The broader spending package, approved by the House of Representatives earlier this month, still needs 60 votes in the Senate to advance. Democrats, who currently hold fewer than that number, have said they will not provide the necessary votes unless their conditions on DHS funding are addressed.
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