The United States is edging closer to a partial government shutdown after lawmakers failed to break a stalemate over immigration enforcement and funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ahead of a Friday midnight deadline.
The impasse in the United States Congress has been sharpened by fallout from two fatal shootings involving federal immigration officers in Minneapolis, which have intensified scrutiny of border enforcement tactics and injected urgency into budget negotiations.
Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, declined to support a DHS funding package without changes to how immigration agencies operate.
Their demands include requiring judicial warrants for entry onto private property, banning masked agents during domestic enforcement, and mandating the use of body cameras by officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Democrats argue the measures are necessary following the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Republicans and the Trump administration have pushed back against the proposed conditions, saying they would hinder enforcement operations. While some GOP lawmakers have privately called for independent investigations into the Minneapolis shootings, party leaders have defended ICE’s mandate and opposed linking enforcement reforms to funding approval.
The deadlock came to a head this week when the Senate failed to advance a DHS spending bill past the 60-vote threshold required to overcome a filibuster, making a funding lapse increasingly likely.
If a shutdown occurs, it would primarily affect DHS agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, the United States Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Although many DHS employees would continue working as “essential” staff, they would do so without pay, raising concerns about service disruptions if the standoff drags on.
The broader dispute reflects mounting national backlash against the administration’s immigration enforcement strategy, particularly a recent large-scale operation in Minnesota that sparked protests and criticism from civil rights groups and local officials.
Federal authorities have since announced an end to that crackdown, citing concerns over enforcement methods and community impact.