Senate Leaders Push to Secure Bipartisan Spending Deal Amid Immigration Tensions

Wed Feb 04 2026 06:56:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Bipartisan discussions intensify as Senate leaders aim to avert a government shutdown while addressing new immigration policies demanded by Democrats.

Senate leaders are in frantic discussions to finalize a spending deal ahead of a looming government shutdown, exacerbated by Democrat demands for stricter immigration enforcement guidelines following recent protests and fatalities involving federal agents. A temporary funding agreement for the Homeland Security Department has been reached but government funding remains uncertain as both parties negotiate their key points.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate leaders were scrambling to save a bipartisan spending deal and avert a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday as Democrats have demanded new restrictions on federal immigration raids across the country.

Democrats struck a rare deal with President Donald Trump Thursday to separate funding for the Homeland Security Department from a broad government spending bill and fund it for two weeks while Congress debates curbs on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The deal came after Democrats vowed to vote against the entire spending bill amidst protests following the fatalities of two individuals in Minneapolis at the hands of federal agents.

Trump acknowledged the bipartisan cooperation, urging both parties to vote in favor of the funding extension. However, debates continued late into Thursday night, delaying any confirmation of the agreement as leaders sought sufficient support.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed optimism but noted “snags” in negotiations while Democratic leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the necessity of addressing ICE's actions. Democrats seek specific reforms around immigration enforcement while Republicans remain hesitant to completely endorse these changes.

Both sides have their challenges; Democrats have demanded restrictions on ICE's local operations, while Republicans, particularly Sen. Lindsey Graham, oppose certain proposed reforms, citing potential risks to agents' safety. If negotiations continue to stall, the threat of a government shutdown looms.

As discussions intensify, it is unclear how long this temporary measure will hold amid rising tensions within both parties concerning immigration policies. The Senate will reconvene, hoping for progress towards a broader budget agreement before time runs out.