By Jackson Richman and Nathan Worcester
WASHINGTON—Senate Republicans are closing in on a plan to end the impasse over funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), signaling a potential breakthrough in a weeks-long standoff with Democrats.
The plan would provide money for most DHS operations but notably excludes Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE’s) enforcement and removal activities—one of the central points of contention for Democrats.
Republicans could then seek to fund the remainder of ICE through budget reconciliation, which they could enact through a simple majority rather than the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
The White House appears willing to accept the proposal. The proposal has been sent to Democrats, according to Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.).
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) cautiously expressed optimism but said the proposal needs to be in writing.
“I think the deal is possible, but we’re down to that point where, like lots of people are talking, but you got to reduce it to writing, and you’ve got to actually trade paper,” he told reporters.
Coons said he will not support a bill if it does not include reforms to ICE’s detention and deportation operations.
“Conversations are ongoing, but this deal seems to be acceptable,” a White House official told The Epoch Times on March 24.
Momentum toward a deal appeared to build after a group of Republican senators met late Monday at the White House with President Donald Trump. Lawmakers said negotiators were expected to work overnight to finalize details and present formal proposals to both parties during their Tuesday caucus lunches.
“All I can say is that the discussions have been very positive and productive, and hopefully headed in the right direction,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) echoed that sentiment, telling reporters, “Both sides are working in a serious way.”
Trump previously said he would not accept a DHS deal unless it incorporated the SAVE America Act. That bill would require photo identification to vote, as well as proof of citizenship for voter registration. Democrats have vowed to filibuster it.
Thune suggested to reporters that the SAVE Act could be taken up after the two-week Passover and Easter break if the funding deal is secured. The Senate has been debating the bill.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters that parts of the act could be done through reconciliation, a process by which legislation related to taxing, spending, and the national debt can be passed without being subject to the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster threshold.
When asked if Trump is comfortable with the DHS funding proposal without the SAVE Act, Graham said, “We’ll see.”
The shift comes amid mounting pressure caused by the partial funding lapse. U.S. airports have been overwhelmed with long lines as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) faces staffing shortages during the busy spring travel season.
Although about 96 percent of the federal government is funded, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been partially shut down since Feb. 13.
Democrats have refused to approve DHS funding without new limits on the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies, particularly its large-scale deportation efforts.
The House passed a DHS appropriations bill in January, drawing support from virtually all Republicans and seven Democrats.
Senate Democrats’ position hardened following the deaths of two U.S. citizens during protests against ICE operations in Minneapolis.
The dispute led to an appropriations lapse affecting DHS and other agencies, but it lasted only a few days. Everything except DHS was then funded through regular appropriations; DHS was funded for 10 days through a stopgap bill (a continuing resolution), which expired with Republicans and Democrats still at odds.
Under the emerging proposal, funding would continue for ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division as well as Customs and Border Protection (CBP). However, new restrictions would aim to return those agencies to their traditional roles, limiting their involvement in broader immigration crackdowns in major cities.
The proposal also incorporates several Democratic priorities, including requiring officers to wear body cameras and clearly display identification while on duty.
Although much of ICE’s funding was secured through a major spending bill passed last year—and agents have continued to receive pay during the partial shutdown—lawmakers say the new restrictions would still apply to operations funded under that law.
The Senate has failed four times to fund the remainder of DHS.
Democrats have outlined a list of 10 demands tied to DHS funding. These include narrowing enforcement to targeted operations, requiring judicial warrants before entering private property, banning indiscriminate arrests, strengthening warrant standards, and verifying citizenship status before detention. They also want agents to clearly identify themselves during enforcement actions.
Additional proposals would require officers to display their agency affiliation, last name, and a unique identification number, and to provide that information upon request. Democrats are also pushing to prohibit enforcement actions at “sensitive locations” such as schools, churches, medical facilities, courts, child-care centers, and election polling places.
Currently, DHS relies primarily on administrative warrants, and immigration officers are not required to wear body cameras. However, outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem recently indicated that agents in Minneapolis would begin using them.
Border czar Tom Homan has defended certain enforcement practices, including the use of masks by agents, citing a sharp increase in threats against personnel and their families.
“I don’t like the masks either, but because threats against ICE officers are up more than 1,500 percent—and assaults and threats overall are up over 8,000 percent—these men and women need to protect themselves,” Homan said during an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
Homan has also argued that administrative warrants are legally valid under federal law.
The Trump administration has yet to respond to several other Democratic demands, including proposed limits on enforcement activities at designated sensitive locations.
On Truth Social, Trump urged ICE agents not to wear masks while working in airports.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
