Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., spoke out about the spending package passed out of the Senate late last week. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)
After reaching an impasse over immigration enforcement reforms in the Senate, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., cut a deal with the White House last week to advance outstanding spending for 2026 while extending funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for two weeks.
The bill would fund the year-long needs for the departments of War, Education, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services.
In addition to ending a four-day funding lapse for those departments, it would also give lawmakers time to negotiate over provisions for ICE.
That compromise passed out of the Senate in a bipartisan 71-29 vote.
In its current form, the bill does not include several key demands that Democrats have made in the wake of two fatal confrontations in Minneapolis between immigration enforcement and civilians. Among other elements, Democrats have demanded legislation to end ICE’s roaming patrols, strengthen warrant requirement protections, ban masks and require visible identification for ICE agents.
Without their inclusion, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., made it clear he believes the legislation falls short.
REPUBLICANS, DEMS BREAK THROUGH RESISTANCE, MOVE FORWARD WITH TRUMP-BACKED FUNDING PACKAGE
"We've made a clear line in the sand. We've articulated the things that will be necessary for there to be a full-year appropriations bill connected to ICE funding," Jeffries said Monday when asked if he would support the two-week extension.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., speaks during a press conference on Dec. 13, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Congressional Integrity Project)
Moskowitz believes that as the White House begins to pull ICE out of Minnesota and requires its agents in the states to begin wearing body cameras, the pressure Democrats can exert on reforms may be diminished in two weeks as the national focus goes elsewhere.
"It’ll become less of a national news story, so it’ll be much better to negotiate a deal for the White House at that point in time," Moskowitz said.
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The House will vote on Tuesday to advance the shutdown-ending spending legislation. It’s unclear how many Democrats may ultimately join Cuellar and DeLauro in supporting the package.
Because of razor-thin margins for Republicans in the House, the legislation may depend on the support of a handful of Democrats amid GOP concerns over DHS, earmarks included in the package, and the lack of voting security legislation.
Leo Briceno is a politics reporter for the congressional team at Fox News Digital. He was previously a reporter with World Magazine.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-dems-clash-over-schumer-trump-deal-jeffries-blasts-lack-ice-reforms