Senate to vote on advancing funding package as Democrats push for ICE reforms
CBSN
Washington — The Senate is set to take a procedural vote Thursday morning on a package to fund the remaining government agencies and programs, with less than two days to avoid a partial government shutdown. But Democrats say they won't allow the package to move forward without reforms to immigration enforcement. Caitlin Huey-Burns contributed to this report.
Washington — The Senate is set to take a procedural vote Thursday morning on a package to fund the remaining government agencies and programs, with less than two days to avoid a partial government shutdown. But Democrats say they won't allow the package to move forward without reforms to immigration enforcement.
Though Congress has approved six of the 12 measures to fund the government, many agencies and programs will begin shutting down on Saturday unless the funding is approved. And although the final funding package had been expected to sail through the Senate this week, the deadly shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis over the weekend prompted Democrats to seek changes to how immigration agencies operate.
Democrats have pledged to oppose the package unless a funding measure for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, is stripped out. With 53 Republicans, support from Democrats is needed to reach the 60-vote threshold to advance the legislation.
But Senate Republicans have moved ahead with their original plan, encouraging Democrats to negotiate with the administration over reforms to immigration enforcement rather than seeking a legislative fix that could risk a partial shutdown.
"Until ICE is properly reined in and overhauled legislatively, the DHS funding bill doesn't have the votes to pass the Senate," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday.

Another winter storm may be headed toward the East Coast of the United States this weekend, on the heels of a powerful and deadly system that blanketed huge swaths of the country in snow and ice. The effects of that original storm have lingered for many areas in its path, and will likely remain as repeated bouts of Arctic air plunge downward from Canada and drive temperatures below freezing. Nikki Nolan contributed to this report. In:

Washington — The Senate is set to take a procedural vote Thursday morning on a package to fund the remaining government agencies and programs, with less than two days to avoid a partial government shutdown. But Democrats say they won't allow the package to move forward without reforms to immigration enforcement. Caitlin Huey-Burns contributed to this report.











