The risk of a government shutdown has sharply increased following a controversial shooting in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents, which has led to a significant revolt among Democratic senators against funding immigration enforcement agencies. The incident, involving the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old resident by agents from ICE, has fueled a strong opposition, particularly against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding, which is part of a six-bill package pending in the Senate.

Despite prior bipartisan support for government funding under different administrations, several Democrats who previously voted to advance similar measures have shifted their stance. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) have expressed their refusal to support any funding for DHS without stringent checks on ICE. "These repeated incidents of violence... are making all of us less safe," stated Schatz, echoing a growing concern over ICE's operations within the U.S.

The House recently passed the DHS funding bill with minimal Democratic support, but merging it with other critical bills has not eased its passage through the Senate. The combined package requires at least eight Democratic votes to overcome procedural hurdles, a tough ask as more than half of the Democratic caucus has already opposed the package, a number likely to increase following the recent shooting.

Efforts to separate the DHS bill from the package have been suggested, with Sen. Cortez Masto proposing to pass the other departments' funding while debating DHS's role and responsibilities separately. However, unanimous consent is needed for such a move, making it a challenging path forward given the tight deadline of midnight Friday to avoid a shutdown.

The urgency of the situation is palpable, with Republican leaders betting on Democratic decisions to either support the package or face a partial shutdown. Meanwhile, Democratic aides acknowledge the increasing likelihood of a shutdown, with no clear alternatives if the current package is blocked.

Senate Democrats have responded strongly to the incident, with leaders like Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) calling for ICE's withdrawal from Minnesota and condemning its actions. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing discussions and strategies being debated among the Democrats, reflecting deep divisions and the challenging balance between national security and civil rights enforcement.