Dems not budging a single inch on DHS shutdown

Democrats are holding firm on their disregard for Americans as they blasted a “wholly inadequate” offer from the White House to end the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown.

Refusing to compromise on some of their core immigration demands, Democrats rejected a counterproposal in a letter from border czar Tom Homan and James Braid, the White House legislative affairs director, as the partial government shutdown continues and American workers miss paychecks.

“In the letter, the White House agreed it would expand the use of body-worn cameras and limit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations around ‘sensitive locations,’ such as schools and hospitals,” The Hill reported. “The administration also said it would increase oversight of DHS detention facilities, enforce ‘the use of visible officer identification’ during operations, and require officers to identify themselves and their agency when requested.”

NEW: @FoxNews has obtained a letter the WH sent to two GOP Senators today, explaining some of the concessions they are offering Democrats on DHS reforms. They include:

– DHS officers conducting immigration enforcement will wear clearly visible ID & provide it when asked.

– Use… pic.twitter.com/MtYX73n5Uc

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 17, 2026

However, Democrats are still seeking a ban on face coverings for immigration officers and on officials entering private property without a judicial warrant.

“From what I know of it, it seems wholly inadequate,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said. “It fails to provide the kinds of reforms the American people are demanding.”

Sen. Brian Schatz said lawmakers have not yet “landed” on the right language.

“We’re directionally aligned on some of these categories, but we have not landed on legislative language. And in a lot of instances, the disagreement isn’t just on the language. It’s on the question of whether we need a law at all. And from our standpoint, of course, we do,” the Hawaii Democrat said.

“We’re in the lawmaking business. If they say they are comfortable with this policy, and we want this policy, the way to enact it is to write a bill and pass it through both chambers and enact it. It’s not just Markwayne Mullin saying something,” he added, referring to President Trump’s pick of Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to lead DHS after firing Kristi Noem.

Asked by The Hill about the counterproposal, Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) said that it is “a lot better than what they have been trickling out to us, so maybe we’re going to get somewhere.”

.@PressSec: We’re on Day 33 of this Democrat-led shutdown of @DHSgov. The White House has worked in good faith to re-open the Department. We’ve offered them multiple binding, substantive offers — and they have rejected every single one. pic.twitter.com/EKQcn5pXts

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 18, 2026

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