Senate Republicans will force through Homeland Security funding without Democratic support after bipartisan negotiations collapsed, leaving the department shuttered for nearly two months as immigration enforcement battles intensify.

GOP Goes It Alone After Failed Negotiations

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced Tuesday that Republicans will fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection through budget reconciliation, a legislative maneuver requiring only a simple majority in the 53-47 Senate. Democrats demanded reforms, including better identification for federal officers and expanded judicial warrant requirements. Thune declared Democrats will now receive none of those concessions after talks stalled. The South Dakota Republican is pushing a narrow bill focused solely on ICE and CBP funding to reopen the department quickly.

President Trump set a June 1 deadline for the reconciliation bill after meeting with Senator John Barrasso and Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham at the White House last Friday. Trump posted on social media that Republicans are moving fast and focused on keeping the border secure. The department has remained closed since mid-February when funding lapsed during negotiations over Trump’s immigration enforcement policies. Federal agents shot two protesters in Minneapolis in January, prompting Trump to separate Homeland Security funding from a larger spending measure.

Obstacles Ahead For Reconciliation Strategy

Republican leaders face pressure from their own conference to expand the bill beyond its narrow focus. Trump wants his proof-of-citizenship SAVE Act included. The White House may request billions for the Iran war. Farm-state senators seek agricultural economy provisions. Some Republicans demand spending cuts to offset the estimated 75 billion dollar price tag. GOP leaders promise a second reconciliation bill for additional priorities, but thin majorities in both chambers and approaching elections make that timeline uncertain.

Democrats Dig In On Reform Demands

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to continue fighting for immigration agency reforms despite being shut out of the reconciliation process. The New York Democrat insisted Americans want ICE and Border Patrol reined in. The Senate passed legislation in March by voice vote to fund most of the department separately, including the Transportation Security Administration as airport security lines grew. House Republicans refused to vote on that measure without immigration enforcement funding included. Trump has used executive orders to pay some department salaries during the shutdown, though that remains a temporary fix.