Senate Democrats blocked a six-bill spending package, including funds for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to press for immigration reforms and accountability.
The spending package included $64.4 billion for DHS as well as funding for other agencies like the Pentagon and health programs.
The big picture: Democrats insisted that new restrictions be placed on immigration enforcement following the fatal shooting of a second American citizen by federal agents in Minneapolis.
- They demanded that the DHS funding be separated from the larger package for more targeted negotiations on immigration practices.
- The blocked legislative package failed to meet the 60-vote threshold needed to proceed, with every Democrat and a few Republicans opposing it.
- Without a new agreement, government funding is set to lapse starting Saturday morning, threatening a shutdown.
Zoom in: Bipartisan talks continued between Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and President Trump, with hopes to pass five of the six bills and extend DHS funding temporarily while negotiations continue.
- Key sticking points include the length of the temporary DHS funding and the specific reforms to immigration enforcement being demanded.
- Democratic demands involve banning masks for immigration officers, mandating body cameras and visible ID, limiting random sweeps, requiring judicial warrants for searches, and applying community law enforcement use-of-force standards to federal agents.
- Democrats also called for an independent investigation into fatal federal shootings in Minneapolis.
- Some Republican senators opposed the proposed reforms, especially the mask ban, citing officer safety concerns; others, like Senator Lindsey Graham, suggested tying some Democratic reforms to ending sanctuary city policies.
