Senate Democrats reject latest offer to reopen DHS, end partial government shutdown

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday his party is rejecting the latest offer from Senate Republicans to reopen the Department of Homeland Security and end a 39-day partial government shutdown. 

The latest proposal, which President Donald Trump approved, would fund almost all the department and sets aside some funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Schumer said Democrats will respond with a counteroffer that "reins in" ICE.

“We have to rein in ICE and stop the violence," Schumer said at a press conference on Capitol Hill. "We need reform. Every one of my colleagues, every one, A, believes we should be unified, and, B, we need reforms of ICE — every single one. 

"You know what we’ve called for along," he continued. "I’m not going to get into specifics but we need strong, strong reforms and we need to rein in ICE. We’ve been consistent in what we’ve been asking for from the get-go."

Schumer blasted the latest GOP offer because it did not include any reforms for ICE, which Democrats have consistently called for in the wake of two fatal shootings in Minneapolis in the past year.

The Democratic leader admitted that negotiations are still ongoing but said his party's offer will include reform suggestions, including requiring federal immigration officers to obtain judicial warrants before entering private homes.

“We’ve been very clear that if we’re talking about funding any part of ICE and CBP, we absolutely must take some key steps to rein them in," Washington Sen. Patty Murray said, according to The Hill. "The current Republican offer in front of us does not do that. Reforms must make it into law." 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.