News|GovernmentUS Senate approves spending package, but short government shutdown likelyUS gov’t funding impasse driven by Democratic anger over federal agents killing two people during immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
The United States Senate has approved a spending package to address a government shutdown, following delays attributed to discussions on immigration enforcement policies. The Senate passed the compromise bill on Friday with a bipartisan vote of 71 to 29.
The United States Senate has approved a spending package to address a government shutdown, following delays attributed to discussions on immigration enforcement policies. The Senate passed the compromise bill on Friday with a bipartisan vote of 71 to 29.
Despite the Senate's approval, a government shutdown is anticipated to commence on Saturday due to the House of Representatives being out of session until Monday. This delay makes it impossible to ratify the Senate’s agreement before the midnight deadline on Friday, resulting in a temporary lapse in funding.
Senate leaders have expressed optimism that the legislation will facilitate a swift resolution to the shutdown, potentially within days.
The funding debate has been intensified by Democratic concerns over immigration enforcement practices, particularly following two fatal incidents involving immigration agents in Minneapolis. These events have led to increased opposition to new funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) without changes to its operational procedures.
The Senate passed the compromise bill on Friday with a bipartisan vote of 71 to 29.
The approved deal separates DHS funding from the broader government funding package. This allows for the continuation of funding for other agencies, such as the Pentagon and the Department of Labor, while new operational guidelines for immigration agencies are considered. DHS funding has been extended for two weeks under a stopgap measure to enable further negotiations.
Proposed Changes and Legislative Strategy
The deal was reached through negotiations between the White House and Senate Democratic leaders, who agreed on funding for most federal government operations through the fiscal year ending in September. However, Democrats have advocated for specific changes in immigration enforcement, including:
Ending roving patrols by immigration enforcement agents Requiring immigration agents to wear body cameras Prohibiting the use of face masks by agents Mandating search warrants from judges instead of internal approvals
Republicans have signaled openness to some of these changes. The White House's willingness to negotiate has been interpreted as a response to the public reaction following the incidents in Minneapolis.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.