Many Republicans say proposed bipartisan DHS funding deal ‘impossible’

(The Center Square) – Senate Republican leaders appear close to reaching a Department of Homeland Security funding deal with Democrats, but many rank-and-file Republicans view the proposed compromise as inadequate.

With the DHS shutdown entering week six and travel chaos growing at some airports, a tentative off-ramp has emerged, according to reports: the Senate would vote on the fiscal year 2026 Homeland Security bill, but without the $5.5 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s deportation operations.

If the Senate passes the bill, the House will also have to approve it.

The tactic is meant to win over enough Democrats to finally fund DHS, without having to adopt all of the new restrictions on ICE activities that Democrats had demanded in exchange for their votes to end the shutdown.

Republican leaders then plan to fund the rest of ICE separately via a budget reconciliation bill, like the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed last year that implemented Pre...