House Republicans reject a Senate bill that omits funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations and will put forth a short-term bill to fund all of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for 60 days, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Friday.
Johnson gave the remarks after a two-hour conference call with House Republicans.
The Senate early Friday approved funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and most other agencies in DHS, but not ICE or Border Patrol, which remain at the center of the budget impasse.
Democrats have refused to fund ICE and Border Patrol without changes that they believe are needed in immigration enforcement practices.
On Friday, Johnson accused Democrats of hijacking DHS appropriations to force open borders and halt deportations of criminal illegal aliens.
“It is unconscionable to me that the Democrats would force some sort of negotiation at three o'clock in the morning and try to hoist this upon the American people and then get on their jets and go home for their holiday and pretend and think that we're gonna go along with that,” he said.
These proposals followed the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers in Minneapolis.
Johnson vowed to put a clean and simple continuing resolution that will be effective until May 22.
"What we are going to present and what we are going to vote on on this floor, our rules committee is working through this right now," Johnson said.
Democrat proposed reforms include limiting enforcement to targeted operations, requiring judicial warrants before entering private property, and banning broad or indiscriminate arrests.
Additional measures call for stronger warrant standards, verification of citizenship status before detention, and requirements for agents to clearly identify themselves.
Democrats also want officers to display their agency affiliation, last name, and a unique identification number, and to provide that information upon request.
Shortly after Johnson's remarks, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to pay TSA agents who have not received a check.
"TSA will be paid," Johnson added. "We will have done our jobs and we will protect the homeland because that is the most basic responsibility of the Congress, is to protect the American people."