Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is maintaining that the Democratic caucus “held the line” in opposition, but none of their demanded policy changes, such as requiring body cameras and barring face masks for immigration officers, ended up in the deal they agreed to.
“Democrats held firm in our opposition that [President] Donald Trump‘s rogue and deadly militia should not get more funding without serious reforms, and we will continue to fight for those reforms,” Schumer said on the Senate floor Friday. “I’m very proud of our Democratic caucus. Throughout it all, Senate Democrats stood united — no wavering, no backing down.”
WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THE FIGHT TO END THE DHS SHUTDOWN
The Senate deal passed through a voice vote around 2:30 a.m. Friday, with five senators present on the floor. The deal did not fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement or border security operations through Customs and Border Protection, although those DHS agencies have funding allotted through 2029 via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Because these agencies were excluded, Democrats are claiming a win.
“Last night, Senate Republicans caved to Democrats, passing a bill to end the Republican TSA shutdown WITHOUT funding for ICE,” the Democratic National Committee posted on X. “We have been clear: No blank check for ICE. This bill now heads to the House.”
But Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is flipping the script on Democrats, telling them to reconsider the state of play after Friday morning’s voice vote.
“ICE and CBP are funded, thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts and the foresight of President Trump and Republicans in Congress,” Thune wrote on X. “After holding DHS and the American people hostage for over 40 days, Dems got ZERO restrictions that would prevent ICE and CBP agents from doing their jobs safely.”
Thune argued that the Democrats “have once again established themselves as the ‘Open Borders, Defund the Police’ party heading into an election.”
“Dem leadership has proven once again they can’t be trusted to make a deal,” Thune said. “Which begs the question if you’re a Dem senator or one of their left-wing supporters: What was this really all about?”
Running in the background of this Senate back-and-forth is the idea that the House may scrap the Senate deal altogether. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has reportedly agreed to bring a continuing resolution to fund all of DHS, with ICE and CBP included, to the House floor.
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) said on X early Friday that he “meant it” when demanding changes to ICE policy, and that Democrats will “keep fighting for reforms.”
TRUMP OFFICIALS STOKE DEMOCRATS’ CONCERNS OF ICE AT POLLING CENTERS DESPITE DHS DENIALS
“I meant it when I said not another dime for ICE without real reforms on paper,” Gallego wrote. “After weeks of Senate Republicans holding TSA and FEMA funding hostage, they finally backed down and voted with Democrats to fully fund our airports and emergency relief without another check for Stephen Miller’s goon squad.”
Friday is the 41st day of the DHS shutdown.
