Lawmakers Are Nowhere Near a Deal on DHS Funding

They only have nine days until funding lapses for the sprawling agency.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Rep. Bennie Thompson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at a press conference.

Democrats say they need major reforms in order to support longer-term funding for DHS. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via AP Images

Lawmakers have just nine days to negotiate Department of Homeland Security reforms or risk a department-wide funding lapse. Talks are tense, they are nowhere close to a deal and it doesn’t seem right now that they can achieve one.

Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, alongside a group of senior Democrats and appropriators, held a press conference Wednesday to make clear they won’t extend DHS funding without major reforms to its immigration enforcement arms.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement “is completely and totally out of control. Immigration enforcement should be just, it should be fair, and it should be humane,” Jeffries said. “That is not what’s taking place right now.”