Senate Democrats have sent the White House a new funding proposal for the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shut down since February 14 as lawmakers battle over the scope of possible reforms at the nation’s immigration agencies.
The proposal was reportedly delivered late Monday night, and details have not been released. In exchange for funding DHS, Democrats are demanding significant reforms at Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, which are housed within DHS, following the killings by federal agents of two U.S. citizens during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
The White House responded Tuesday with a letter that details some of the changes in policy it is willing to make at DHS. In the letter — addressed to Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Katie Britt and signed by Tom Homan, President Trump’s “border czar,” and James Braid, the White House congressional liaison — the administration says its proposed “improved operation guidelines” include the expanded use of body cameras by DHS agents; limitations on immigration enforcement actions at “certain sensitive sites” such as hospitals and schools; increased oversight at DHS detention facilities; a requirement that DHS agents display proper identification; and a pledge not to deport or detain U.S. citizens.
The letter also accuses Democrats of failing to “show a good faith attempt at compromise” in their previous offers.
Still far apart: The White House offer fails to address Democrats’ two main demands: a requirement that immigration officials obtain judicial warrants and a prohibition on agents wearing masks.
“We’re trying to move a little bit, but they’ve got to get serious. They are not getting serious,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. “The key issues of warrants when you bust in someone’s house. The key issue of identity, of police and no masks. They haven’t budged on that.”
Senate Minority Leader John Thune was equally unenthusiastic about the latest offer from Democrats. The White House has made concessions, Thune said, but “Democrats seem intent on dragging out this political issue,” adding that Democrats “want to defund law enforcement.”
Thune also called for more active negotiations. “We got to have a meaningful conversation where we sit down at the table and actually work these issues out,” he said. “You can’t get there if you’re not sitting down at the table.”
Some airports could close: As the politicians continue to wrangle over funding for DHS, the nation’s transportation system is beginning to feel the pinch. About 50,000 Transportation Security Administration employees have now missed a paycheck, and there are reports of serious delays due to staffing shortages at airports around the country.
Acting Deputy TSA Administrator Adam Stahl said Tuesday that a surge in employee absences may impede operations. “As the weeks continue, if this continues, it’s not hyperbole to suggest that we may have to quite literally shut down airports, particularly smaller ones, if call-out rates go up,” Stahl said on Fox News.