By Maribel Velazquez
The House of Representatives is preparing to vote on a bill that would finance much of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)in an attempt to end a partial closure that has now totaled 76 days. According to Politico, the action reflects the growing pressure within the Republican Party to resolve a crisis that affects thousands of federal workers.
The president of the House, Mike Johnson has delayed the vote for weeks while seeking consensus within his caucus. However, with the legislative recess around the corner, the White House and several legislators have intensified negotiations to unblock the project previously approved by the Senate.
The initiative contemplates fund key DHS agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but it leaves out two of the most controversial: the Immigration and Retainer Service to watch on Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol. This point has been the main political obstacle, as Republicans seek to guarantee resources for these agencies through a separate package.
“We have to make sure that those two crucial agencies receive full funding“, and we Republicans have to do it on our own,” Johnson declared before the media, making it clear that the strategy involves advancing in parallel with other budget measures.
The project will need the support of two-thirds of the House for its approval, which will require the addition of Democratic votes. The tension between both parties has been constant since the beginning of the closure, which began on February 14 after disagreements over the immigration policies promoted by Donald Trump’s administration.
Meanwhile, officials have warned of the consequences of prolonging the lack of financing. Legislators close to the process have indicated that emergency funds are close to being exhausted, which could leave thousands of federal employees without pay.
Meanwhile, Republicans advance alternative strategy to secure long-term resources for ICE and Border Patrol through a budget package that could reach the 70 billion dollars in the next few years. This mechanism would allow Democratic opposition in the Senate to be circumvented using special approval rules.
The outcome of this vote will be key not only to reactivate the functioning of the DHS, but also to define the direction of immigration policy.
Keep reading:
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