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There was a small movement in the talks to end the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security on Monday, as Congressional Democrats sent another counteroffer to the White House, 18 days after the Trump administration sent theirs.<\/p>\n
\u201cDems sent over a counteroffer late last night and White House is currently reviewing,\u201d a White House official confirmed to The Daily Wire on background Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Exact details of the counteroffer are unknown, but Democrats have publicly said for weeks that they want to see an end to several federal immigration enforcement tactics, including the end of masking for agents, and the end of roving patrols. The Democrats are also demanding the use of judicial warrants to make immigration-related arrests.<\/p>\n
The demands and the shutdown came amid backlash to Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota earlier this year, including the shooting of Alex Pretti.<\/p>\n
While Democrats have intended for the shutdown to serve as leverage for immigration reforms, ICE and Customs and Border Protection have already been funded primarily through the \u201cOne Big Beautiful Bill Act\u201d last year, which means that the current shutdown has largely impacted other agencies, including TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard.<\/p>\n
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told reporters on Tuesday that Democrats think the shutdown is a \u201cpolitical winner for them\u201d and that the White House \u201cwent above and beyond \u2026 any initial offers that they put out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, I just, you know, even with respect to body cameras, there was $20 million in the bill, the original bill. There was $100 million in the proposal from the White House, to include audits by the inspector general, you know, and reviews for noncompliance,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) is considered the lead Republican negotiator on the issue for the caucus, but her office told The Daily Wire last week that Democrats have largely been uncooperative in the process.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, travelers are facing long lines at airports across the country as a result of the funding lapse. At least 300 TSA agents have quit, and many others have called out from the job as they are obligated to work without a paycheck. Many Senate Democrats have argued that Republicans are stopping bills that would fund other aspects of the department unrelated to immigration.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, we could be paying TSA agents, funding FEMA before the next disaster hits, protecting our cyber defenses, and making sure the Coast Guard gets paid. But Republicans said no,\u201d Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemocrats have tried\u2014six separate times\u2014to pass simple bills to keep these critical parts of DHS running while negotiations continue. Six times, Republicans came to the floor and blocked them. TSA officers shouldn\u2019t miss paychecks, disaster relief shouldn\u2019t be left hanging, and Americans\u2019 safety shouldn\u2019t be collateral damage in a political standoff Republicans created,\u201d Schumer continued.<\/p>\n
The ongoing shutdown, which kicked off in mid-February, comes at a time of transition for DHS, as Secretary Kristi Noem will be leaving her position on March 31, and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) is President Donald Trump\u2019s nominee to lead the department next. When Noem\u2019s exit was announced amid multiple controversies, Schumer said that her removal would not suffice to bring back full funding for DHS.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe President has fired Kristi Noem\u2014good riddance. But let\u2019s be crystal clear: the problems at DHS go far beyond a personnel change,\u201d Schumer stated on March 5. \u201cUnder this administration, Americans have seen devastating violence and reckless ICE actions that have shaken communities across the country. The rot runs deep. If the President wants accountability, he must do more than fire one official \u2014 he must end the violence and rein in ICE.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n