Senators consider deal to fund Homeland Security but not ICE enforcement

Key Points:

• Senators are negotiating a proposal to fund most of the Homeland Security Department, including TSA airport workers, while excluding ICE’s enforcement and removal operations, which are central to the current budget dispute.
• The proposal follows a meeting between Republican senators and President Trump, with bipartisan talks described as positive and aimed at resolving the monthlong funding stalemate amid airport staffing shortages and travel disruptions.
• The deal would fund ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection with new restrictions, such as requiring officers to wear body cameras and identification, addressing key Democratic demands.
• Markwayne Mullin was confirmed as the new Homeland Security secretary, replacing Kristi Noem, and signaling potential changes in immigration enforcement policies, including judicial oversight on warrants used by immigration officers.
• Senators emphasized the urgency to finalize a written proposal and expressed cautious optimism about reaching an agreement that balances funding with operational restraints on ICE.