House Democrats Push for DHS Funding Bill Without Immigration Enforcement: Discharge Petition Strategy Unveiled
House Democrats are pushing for a vote on a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security without including funding for federal immigration enforcement amid the ongoing government shutdown. They have introduced a discharge petition to bring the legislation to the floor, excluding funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the Office of the Secretary. Federal workers at affected agencies have faced missed paychecks and increased absences since the shutdown began.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced the strategy to his caucus, aiming to demand reforms to immigration enforcement. The discharge petition requires 218 signatures to force a floor vote, and Democrats are hopeful they can secure enough support from Republicans. House Republicans have expressed doubts about the success of the petition, citing existing funding for immigration-related agencies.
Efforts to pass legislation funding DHS through September have faced challenges in the Senate, with Democrats pushing for measures unrelated to immigration enforcement. House Republicans stress the importance of DHS funding for security reasons but oppose separating immigration funding from the broader legislation. Democrats have maintained their demands for reforms, including requiring immigration agents to wear body cameras and identification.
Negotiations between the White House and Senate Democrats have been ongoing, with Democrats sending a counteroffer to the White House. The offer includes proposals such as expanded use of body cameras and limiting civil immigration enforcement activities at certain locations. However, the White House has criticized the Democrats' counteroffer for not addressing key issues like masks and warrants. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer highlighted the lack of progress on these issues in the negotiations.