‘Conversations are ongoing, but this deal seems to be acceptable,’ a White House official told The Epoch Times.
By Catholics for Catholics
Senate Republicans are allegedly near to closing a deal with Democrats that would reopen the Department of Homeland Security after a shutdown that has endured more than five weeks.
After a meeting with President Trump on Monday night, GOP lawmakers had tentatively settled to move on a bill that would fund all the department’s functions outside of immigration enforcement and removal.
The plan would provide funds for most DHS operations but conspicuously excludes Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE’s) enforcement and removal activities, which is one of the key points of disagreement for Democrats, according to a story by The Epoch Times.
The plan is that Republicans could then look to fund the rest of ICE through budget resolution, which they could enact through a simple majority rather than the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
President Donald Trump said he will review the proposal.
When asked Tuesday whether he would back a proposal that would split funding for immigration enforcement operations from the rest of the Department of Homeland Security, Trump said, “They’re working on all of that.”
.@Grady_Trimble: "The passengers that I've spoken to want Congress to act to fund @DHSgov, to put an end to these long lines that we're seeing at airports across the country."
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 20, 2026
Stop hurting American travelers with this political shutdown and reopen DHS, @SenSchumer. pic.twitter.com/o5MU4aikDF
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) cautiously conveyed enthusiasm but said the proposal has to be in writing.
“I think the deal is possible, but we’re down to that point where, like lots of people are talking, but you got to reduce it to writing, and you’ve got to actually trade paper,” he told reporters.
However, Coons said he will not back a bill if it does not include reforms to ICE’s detention and deportation operations.
“Conversations are ongoing, but this deal seems to be acceptable,” a White House official told The Epoch Times on March 24.
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