Democrats had already expressed concern about continuing DHS funding in the face of the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, which they see as needlessly brutal.
By Dinah Bucholz, Jewish Breaking News
Amid concerns arising from a second shooting death by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, some Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), have signaled that they would refuse to sign a government funding bill if it includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
In a statement issued Saturday, Schumer said:
“What’s happening in Minnesota is appalling—and unacceptable in any American city. 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. I will vote no. Senate Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included.”
Schumer was joined by Democrats who had opposed the previous shutdown or had broken with their own party to vote to end it.
“My personal guiding principle has always been ‘agree where you can and fight where you must.’” Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) said in a statement.
“And I believe this is a time when we must fight back.” Rosen had voted with Democrats to end the previous shutdown.
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) issued a statement expressing similar views.
“The Trump Administration and Kristi Noem are putting undertrained, combative federal agents on the streets with no accountability. They are oppressing Americans and are at odds with local law enforcement,” she said.
“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.”
Democrats had already expressed concern about continuing DHS funding in the face of the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, which they see as needlessly brutal; they are also raising concerns about the violation of protesters’ constitutional rights.
However, the shooting of Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti has pushed them over the edge.
Republicans pushed back, saying Democrats had continually reiterated their support for keeping the government open and had expressed appreciation for the bipartisan work they had accomplished.
In addition, a Senate aide said, “These bills were negotiated with Dems—they agreed to what’s in them,” implying that the Democrats should stand by what they voted for.
The bill as it currently stands fully funds the government, but any changes would need to be approved by the House. The deadline for passing the legislation to keep the government open is fast approaching with a date of Jan. 30.
This is especially problematic, given that the House is in recess until Feb. 2.
On Thursday, the House passed the legislation in two parts. One part funds DHS, and the other funds the Departments of Defense, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Education, Labor, and Transportation.
Then the parts were combined into one package for the Senate to consider, along with additional provisions that the House had passed but had not yet sent to the Senate.
If any changes need to be made, the House will have to return early from its recess to iron things out and then vote again on the revised legislation, which House members have indicated would not be an option—for the time being.
“We passed all 12 bills over to the Senate, and they still have six in their possession that they need to pass to the president,” a House GOP leadership source told Fox News Digital. “We have no plan to come back next week.”
In the event that the House needs to be recalled, it will be a big mess. Many members are on planned trips, and others are busy campaigning.
The snowstorm might also delay their return by days, potentially ensuring that they will miss the deadline to pass the bill.
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