The U.S. House passed spending bills Tuesday to end the partial government shutdown while buying time for bipartisan negotiations over new accountability measures for immigration enforcement, setting up a high-stakes 10-day deadline.
President Donald Trump signed the bills into law, reopening the government that had partially closed early Saturday. The deal requires Republicans and Democrats to agree on policy changes regarding how Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents operate during immigration raids. If they fail to reach consensus by Feb. 14, the Department of Homeland Security, including TSA and FEMA, will shut down. ICE operations could continue because of $170 billion appropriated under last year’s Republican tax and spending law.
The vote was 217-214, with 21 Democrats voting for the final bill and 21 Republicans voting no. A procedural vote to advance the package narrowly passed 217-215 earlier Tuesday, nearly derailed by last-minute Republican opposition before House GOP leaders convinced holdouts after more than 30 minutes of negotiations. “I’m happy to report Republicans got the job done,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said, adding that leaders hope to avoid a DHS shutdown next week.
The package funds the Pentagon and numerous departments through Sept. 30 while temporarily funding Homeland Security through Feb. 13. The arrangement resulted from a deal struck between Senate Democrats and the White House after immigration officials shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last month. Some House conservatives initially opposed the package, believing it undermines ICE’s efforts. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said she wouldn’t vote for it unless it included the Save Act requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, but she changed her position after visiting the White House.
Senate Democrats have demanded that Republicans require immigration agents to wear body cameras, identify themselves, obtain warrants for arrests, and adhere to a code of conduct similar to state and local law enforcement. House Democrats added that officers need clear guidelines for use of force. But Republicans have already rejected some core demands. Johnson said Tuesday the conference won’t require judicial warrants for arrests by immigration officers, arguing administrative warrants are “sufficient legal authority.”
House Democrats remain split on the strategy. Many privately raised concerns that Senate negotiators won’t achieve meaningful accountability measures. “It does nothing to provide public safety at a time when communities are feeling under assault,” said Rep. Steven Horsford, who voted against the package. Others say keeping the agency funded short-term is necessary if Democrats hope to rein in ICE. “I’ll take those 10 days and see what we can get,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.
