GOP losing confidence on ICE bill fight that could easily 'derail': analysis

Members of the Republican Party reportedly feel less confident about pushing through a Department of Homeland Security bill that includes Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding.

The DHS has faced a protracted funding crisis as negotiations between Democrats and Republicans have stalled over competing demands regarding immigration enforcement agencies. The partial government shutdown has lasted more than a month, leaving employees at the Transportation Security Administration and other DHS agencies without pay.

The core dispute centers on funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations. Senate Democrats signaled opposition to a House Republican continuing resolution aimed at ending the partial government shutdown, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stating the proposal would be "dead on arrival" in the chamber.

The Washington Post reporters Riley Beggin and Theodric Meyer both noted that some within the GOP are aware of the slim margin the party has in passing the funding bill.

They wrote, "Some House Republicans are demanding assurances that there will be another chance to pass remaining GOP policy priorities before the end of the year if they support a narrowly written ICE and Border Patrol funding bill.

"Republicans have an extremely slim majority in the House, and a small handful of objectors could derail the plan. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Missouri) wouldn’t rule out demanding additional measures in the immigration funding bill, saying he’s 'not confident' there will be another reconciliation bill."

Burlison added, "I think we're wasting an opportunity. This may be the last train that leaves the station."

Markwayne Mullin, who was drafted into the DHS to replace the outgoing Kristi Noem, has also sounded the alarm on the state of the department and its finances.

He said that a $150 billion immigration enforcement budget, which is used to pay employee wages, will soon run out. Speaking during an appearance on Fox and Friends Tuesday (April 21), he said, "That money is dried up, if I continue down this path, the first week of May. My payroll through DHS is just over $1.6 billion every two weeks.

"So the money is going extremely fast, and once that happens, there is no emergency funds after that."