US Congress deadlocked on migrant crackdown, raising risk of partial government shutdown

A prolonged standoff between Republicans and Democrats in the US Congress over immigration enforcement is threatening to push the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) into a partial government shutdown from Saturday, following two fatal shootings in Minneapolis.

“For weeks, we’ve been advocating for commonsense reforms,” said Chuck Schumer, the leading Democrat in the Republican-controlled Senate, as the deadline for a shutdown loomed after midnight on Friday.

Democrats have refused to approve additional funding for DHS unless significant changes are made to the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency at the centre of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Their demands include limiting roving patrols, banning ICE agents from wearing facemasks during operations, and requiring judicial warrants before entering private property.
Opposition to ICE intensified after the January deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two US citizens who were shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis during protests against immigration enforcement actions. Lawmakers are now calling for stricter accountability for ICE officers, including adherence to existing standards governing the use of force.

“Democrats will not sign off on a blank cheque for chaos,” Schumer said. Half-measures House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed those concerns on Thursday, warning that ICE had become “completely and totally out of control.”

He argued that public funds should be spent on easing the cost of living for Americans rather than being used in ways that harm them, adding that violence often erupts “whenever these masked and untrained ICE agents arrive on the scene.”

Even if all 53 Republican senators back DHS funding, Senate rules require at least 60 votes to move the budget forward, meaning support from several Democrats would still be needed.

The White House said it was open to negotiations and submitted a counterproposal late Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune described the offer as “extremely serious,” while cautioning that Democrats would not secure all of their demands.

Democrats rejected the proposal outright. “Half-measures are not enough,” said Senator Patty Murray, insisting her party’s conditions were both reasonable and necessary.

Airports impacted
If no agreement is reached, thousands of federal workers could be placed on furlough, while many others would be required to continue working without pay until a budget is passed.

ICE operations would continue during a partial shutdown due to funding approved last year, meaning the effects would be felt more sharply by other agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which coordinates disaster response.

The Transportation Security Administration has warned that a prolonged shutdown could have serious consequences for air travel, including staff shortages, longer security lines, and flight delays or cancellations.

If it occurs, this would be the third shutdown of Trump’s second term, following a record 43-day government closure last October and November.