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Senate GOP Leader Thune Touts Defeat of Dem Demands in DHS Funding Deal
Thune says Democrats got 'zero' of the ICE and CBP reforms they pushed for during the Homeland Security shutdown.
Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:37pm
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pushed back against claims that congressional Republicans caved to Democratic demands during the ongoing Homeland Security funding standoff. Thune argued that Democrats failed to secure any of the structural reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that they had been demanding over the past 48 days.
Why it matters
The Homeland Security funding battle has become a proxy war over the future of immigration enforcement, with Democrats seeking to rein in the activities of ICE and CBP while Republicans have sought to maintain current levels of funding and authority. Thune's comments suggest the GOP believes it has outmaneuvered Democrats in this latest round of negotiations.
The details
While the Senate's DHS funding deal includes money for ICE and much of CBP, it does not include the structural reforms to those agencies that Democrats had been pushing for. Thune said Democrats 'got zero of the reforms they were advocating for.' He argued that Republicans 'saw this coming' and had already pre-funded ICE and CBP accounts through the end of the fiscal year, allowing them to maintain current operations.
- The Homeland Security funding standoff has been ongoing for the past 48 days.
- The Senate's redo of its funding plan was voted on Thursday morning.
The players
John Thune
The Republican Senate Majority Leader from South Dakota.
Chuck Schumer
The Democratic Senate Minority Leader from New York.
Donald Trump
The President of the United States.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
A federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that enforces federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and immigration.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
A federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that is responsible for regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including immigration and drug laws.
What they’re saying
“No, we didn't cave. I mean, ultimately, what the Democrats did, you could say ... this was all about 'reforms,' restrictions on ICE and CBP agents and what they could or couldn't do. They got none of that. They got zero of the reforms they were advocating for.”
— John Thune, Senate Majority Leader
“We were united, held the line, and refused to let Republican chaos win.”
— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader
What’s next
Republicans, now with the backing of President Donald Trump, are eyeing the budget reconciliation process to fund immigration enforcement operations for the foreseeable future. It's a tricky maneuver that would require full buy-in from Senate Republicans.
The takeaway
This battle over Homeland Security funding has become a high-stakes partisan fight over the future of immigration enforcement in the U.S. While Democrats failed to secure the structural reforms to ICE and CBP they were seeking, the ongoing standoff suggests the two parties remain deeply divided on these issues.
