Total confusion erupted in Washington after President Donald Trump signaled he would accept a major cut to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding as part of a potential deal with Democrats, marking a sharp shift from his long-standing hardline stance on immigration enforcement.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would accept a $5 billion cut to Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding if the Senate passes the SAVE America Act.
The post marked his first public opening to Democrats since the partial government shutdown over Department of Homeland Security funding started more than a month ago.
“I don’t think we should make any deal with the Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats unless, and until, they Vote with Republicans to pass ‘THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,’” Trump posted.
He listed the act’s requirements, including voter ID with a picture, proof of citizenship to vote, limits on mail-in ballots, paper ballots only, bans on men in women’s sports, and no transgender procedures for children.
Trump urged Senate Republicans to combine the SAVE America Act with other bills into one package, remove the filibuster, and cancel the two-week Easter recess if needed to pass it.
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He added, “Lump everything together as one, and VOTE!!! Kill the Filibuster, and stay in D.C. for Easter, if necessary.”
Senate Proposal to Split Funding
Senate Republicans met with Trump on March 24 and proposed a two-phase plan to end the 39-day shutdown. The plan would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security while setting aside ICE enforcement and removal operations.
- Pass one bill to fund DHS except for the $5 billion, or 6 percent, tied to ICE deportation work.
- Follow with a reconciliation bill, which needs only Republican votes, to restore and possibly increase ICE funding.
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, who took part in the meeting with Trump, said the president gave room for the deal.
“(President Trump) allowed us to be able to have the space to make a deal with the Democrats right now that says fund all of Department of Homeland Security except for the $5 billion, 6% piece that is enforcement removal operations. But of course, we already have the money to do that,” Moreno stated.
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He noted the Big Beautiful Bill Act from last year already set aside $85 billion for ICE over several years.
The plan differs from earlier Republican demands for full DHS funding in one bill. Democrats have refused to increase ICE money without changes to its operations. House Democrats collected signatures for a discharge petition to force a vote on funding DHS without the ICE portion.
Why This Matters
The shutdown has caused more than 450 TSA officers to quit, leading to flight delays and long security lines at airports nationwide. On March 24, ICE agents reported to more than a dozen airports, including Cleveland Hopkins, to help screen passengers and ease backups.
Lawmakers must reach an agreement before the Easter recess begins at the end of this week. If no deal passes, the shutdown will hit day 60 when Congress returns on April 13, setting a new record for the longest federal funding lapse.
The outcome will decide whether TSA, FEMA, and other DHS operations return to full staffing while immigration enforcement funding is handled separately.
