Senate Adopts Budget Resolution to Fund ICE and CBP in Bid to Resolve DHS Shutdown

By Associated Press

*WASHINGTON — April 23, 2026*

The Senate voted early Thursday to adopt a budget resolution as an initial step in the reconciliation process to fund U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), sending it to the House amid a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that began in mid-February.

The shutdown stemmed from a lapse in funding after Democrats conditioned continued appropriations on policy reforms for immigration enforcement agencies, following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal agents in Minneapolis in January 2026. Good was a mother of three, and Pretti was a registered nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital. The incidents occurred during Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale immigration enforcement operation targeting undocumented immigrants in the area. Federal agents have stated that Good's vehicle struck an ICE agent, while Pretti posed a threat during an interaction, though these circumstances remain disputed.

Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, are using the budget reconciliation process — which requires only a simple majority and bypasses the 60-vote filibuster threshold — to advance the funding without Democratic support. This approach mirrors the one used last year to enact President Donald Trump's tax and spending cuts package.

“We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America’s borders are secure and prevented Democrats from blocking funding for these important agencies,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.


The reconciliation process involves heightened review by the Senate parliamentarian to ensure provisions comply with budgetary rules, along with extended amendment votes at key stages. The Senate conducted an initial series of amendment votes starting Wednesday evening and continuing into early Thursday morning. Democrats offered amendments to reduce health care costs and other expenditures, highlighting differences with the Republican emphasis on immigration enforcement funding.

“Instead of directing hundreds of billions of dollars to ICE and CBP, Republicans should work with Democrats to lower out-of-pocket health care costs,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Multi-Step Path to Funding DHS Agencies

For the resolution to advance, the House must approve the framework, and the Senate parliamentarian must sign off on its compliance. The chambers would then proceed to final passage of the underlying bill.

The Senate previously approved bipartisan legislation by voice vote in March to fund most of DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), amid reports of lengthening security lines at some airports. House Republican leaders, however, have declined to take up that measure without concurrent funding for ICE and CBP.

The current $70 billion budget resolution proposes funding for ICE and CBP over three years, through the remainder of Trump’s term. GOP leaders including Thune aim to limit the bill to those agencies and secure presidential approval by month’s end, alongside the previously passed Senate funding for the rest of DHS.

Challenges persist, as Republicans in both chambers view this as a key opportunity to advance additional priorities before November’s midterm elections. Proposals have included funding for farmers and Trump’s proof-of-citizenship voting measure, known as the SAVE America Act.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., briefly delayed the amendment votes late Wednesday, expressing frustration that the resolution excluded elements of the SAVE America Act and other items.

“This is the last train leaving the station,” Kennedy said, warning that few major bills would pass before the elections. He later withdrew his objection, allowing votes to continue.

Democrats Seek Reforms Following Minneapolis Shootings

Democrats have argued that any DHS funding legislation should incorporate reforms for ICE and CBP, such as improved identification for federal officers and greater reliance on judicial warrants.

Following the January shootings during Operation Metro Surge, Trump agreed to Democrats’ request to separate ICE and CBP funding from a broader spending package that was enacted into law. Bipartisan talks on enforcement policy changes failed to yield agreement, leading to the February funding lapse.

The Senate’s March bipartisan bill funded non-enforcement DHS components, but House Republicans rejected consideration without ICE and CBP allocations. Congress then recessed for two weeks, leaving the matter unresolved. Trump has issued executive orders to cover some DHS salaries in the interim, though their continuation remains uncertain.

House Considerations and Sequencing Issues

During the recess, Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., outlined a two-track strategy: advance the Senate’s bipartisan bill for most DHS funding through regular procedures, while using reconciliation for ICE and CBP.

Johnson has not scheduled House action on the Senate’s broader DHS funding bill. Some House Republicans echo Kennedy’s view that the reconciliation vehicle should incorporate additional priorities. Johnson emphasized the order of passage this week, stating that lawmakers prefer not to fund other DHS elements without securing ICE and CBP.

“We’ll get there,” Johnson said. “Just stay tuned.”

The resolution’s adoption marks progress for Republicans seeking to prioritize border security, as reflected in coverage from right-leaning outlets that highlight the need to maintain enforcement capabilities amid ongoing migration pressures. Democrats maintain their focus on accountability measures post-shootings, with disputes over the incidents underscoring broader debates on federal tactics during operations like Metro Surge.

The process now shifts to the House, where party unity and parliamentarian rulings will determine next steps.

*Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report.*

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