Schumer Unwilling To Discuss DHS Reforms Despite Demanding Negotiations, Republicans Say

Democrats have demanded negotiations for weeks on immigration enforcement, but so far Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has not been willing to talk to Republicans, several GOP senators said Thursday.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Thursday that various parties have contacted Schumer to ramp up negotiations, but the lead Democrat has not shown any interest in cutting a deal. Lawmakers are up against a fast-approaching Feb. 13 deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or risk triggering a prolonged shutdown.

“ Senator Britt has reached out multiple times now to Senator Schumer, or whomever he wants to negotiate on his behalf, and it’s been crickets over there,” Thune told reporters Thursday. “The White House has tried, too.”

Britt, a key Senate dealmaker, told the DCNF her outreach to Schumer has not materialized in negotiations despite visiting his office on multiple occasions.

“Obviously, it is a bit of political posturing if you’re just going to do press conferences and tweets and not have dialogue,” she said. “I certainly hope that changes.”

A spokesperson for Schumer did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.

Schumer’s reluctance to start negotiations comes after Democrats insisted on a short-term funding patch for DHS to allow for talks with Republicans to discuss changes to immigration enforcement. Republicans warned against a two-week funding extension and pushed for funding DHS on a longer term basis.

A DHS funding bill would need 60 votes to overcome the Senate filibuster, meaning a handful of Democrats would have to join Republicans in supporting the measure.

Britt criticized Schumer for attempting to negotiate with the media instead of beginning serious conversations with Republicans. The lead Democrat posted a laundry list of policy demands on social media Wednesday — a week after outlining