Government funding was on course to extend beyond Sunday’s midnight eastern time deadline for a new deal with both parties in the House having earlier reached the framework of an agreement.
But as Minneapolis protests mounted over the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in the city, Democrats see an opportunity to appease their base by holding up funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which oversees ICE.
Democrats struck a rare agreement with President Donald Trump late Thursday night to separate funding for DHS from a broad government spending bill and provide money for that agency for two weeks while Congress debates curbs on ICE.
It’s a deal that still needs approval in the Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority, and it still may not be enough to avoid at least a temporary shutdown, The Associated Press reports.
House approval is still required, and the House won’t be in session again until Monday.
The Trump administration is expected to issue guidance to federal agencies on how to proceed.
“These appropriation bills were all pre-negotiated with the appropriations committees in both the House and the Senate, Democrat and Republican,” Clyde told show host Tony Perkins. “We in the House added some amendments to it that did not pass. So, we didn't get any additional amendments beyond what was actually negotiated.”
Clyde is calling foul over what he sees as an 11th-hour play by Democrats.
“This, quote, crisis now in Minneapolis, which has been going on for a long time, and honestly, a tremendous amount of the responsibility rests with the political leaders who refuse to support the federal government in its responsibilities to uphold immigration law.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has emphatically stated that his city will not use its local police force to enforce federal immigration laws.
He’s had a back-and-forth on social media with Trump, who this week accused Frey of “playing with fire” after the mayor contradicted Trump comments that progress was being made.
Walz has condemned the operation and called for the removal of ICE agents from Minneapolis.
“They’re trying to use that as leverage then to get some sort of a settlement to handcuff the immigration and ICE,” Clyde said.
Earlier Thursday, eight Republicans voted against the Senate version of the bill not because of the Minnesota happenings but because of increased spending earmarks.
A House amendment to strip those earmarks failed, Clyde said.
“Some of them are absolutely egregious. So, we could save about $16 billion of spending if we would eliminate them. What needs to happen is this bill needs to pass so that we can continue to fund ICE in its entirety.”
