Talks to avert a US government shutdown have intensified in Washington DC, with officials reportedly moving towards an agreement in negotiations regarding immigration enforcement operations.
Democrats have been pressing to remove funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from a $1.2 trillion government spending package following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday.
Reports indicate that the White House and Senate Democratic leadership are close to an agreement that would introduce new restrictions on federal immigration agents, meeting some of the Democratic demands.
This would enable five of the six spending bills to pass before the Friday deadline, with a short-term extension for the DHS to allow continued discussions on the proposed new restrictions on immigration operations.
If no deal is reached, the second shutdown in recent months will commence after midnight on Friday, January 30.
The spending bill has already passed in the House, but it requires 60 votes to move forward in the Senate, where Republican support will be crucial.
Senate Democrats are insisting on measures such as requiring federal agents to obtain warrants before making arrests and clearer identification protocols. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has expressed opposition to ICE funding until significant reforms are implemented.
Republican leaders acknowledge the ongoing negotiations as productive but stress the need to avoid government shutdowns at all costs.
Should the bill be altered, it would require re-approval from the House, which is currently in recess, complicating the timeline.
In the meantime, Democrats have escalated demands for broader changes to immigration policy, including the replacement of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem due to recent actions against immigrants.
As talks continue, the stakes remain high, with impacts for various federal operations if a shutdown occurs, particularly affecting essential services.
