As the deadline of February 13 looms closer, the rift between Democratic and Republican leaders over the funding of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shows no signs of narrowing. In a recent development, Democratic leaders, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have promised to introduce new legislation that includes stringent new restrictions on immigration enforcement agencies.

During a press conference flanked by fellow Democrats, Schumer expressed a strong stance on the proposed legislation. "We're going to have tough, strong legislation,” he stated, urging Republicans to take the matter seriously as it is "turning America inside out."

Conversely, Senate Majority Leader John Thune highlighted the challenges in reaching an agreement before the impending deadline. Thune suggested that without significant progress in negotiations, a long-term stopgap might be the most feasible solution. He mentioned the possibility of a year-long continuing resolution (CR) which would maintain the current DHS funding levels through September 30, without any changes to immigration enforcement.

While Jeffries and Schumer appeared unified in their stance at the news conference, their reactions to a full-year CR diverged slightly. Jeffries categorically opposed the idea, stating he is “a hard no” on a full-year CR, whereas Schumer was less committal, emphasizing that "Republicans shouldn't expect our votes if they're not willing to enact strong, tough reform."

The Democratic leaders also reiterated some of their key demands which include prohibiting masks for federal agents in most circumstances and requiring judicial approval for warrants in DHS immigration apprehensions. These demands follow the controversial killing of a Minneapolis man by federal agents on January 24, which has fueled the call for significant reforms within DHS operations.

The negotiations have also been marked by personal disputes, particularly concerning the reliability of negotiating partners. Thune expressed doubts about Jeffries’ reliability in negotiations and suggested that any agreement should primarily involve Democrats and the Trump administration. In response, Jeffries accused Thune of being influenced by President Donald Trump, asserting that Democrats are negotiating in good faith to achieve "bold, meaningful, and transformative" changes in how DHS operates.

As the deadline approaches, both parties remain entrenched in their positions, with critical issues at stake that could impact the functioning and oversight of DHS moving forward.