Senate GOP vows to ‘go it alone’ on ICE funding as Dems double down on shutdown

By Fox News · Fox News

Senate Republicans are meeting with President Donald Trump Friday to crystallize a plan to fund immigration operations that would cut out Democrats altogether. Congressional Republicans are turning to the party-line budget reconciliation process to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for years to come in a move that can’t be blocked by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Republicans have a short timetable to get the job done given that Trump has set a deadline for the bill to be on his desk by June 1. 'WE DIDN'T CAVE': THUNE HIGHLIGHTS SCHUMER, DEMS' LOSSES IN DHS FUNDING DEAL Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said he and Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., are meeting with Trump on Friday to prepare the framework of the package. "We’re going to have to go it alone because Democrats aren’t interested in funding national security at a time of increased concerns around the world," Barrasso said. Republicans will first have to produce a budget resolution to provide guardrails for the forthcoming package. Barrasso said Senate Republicans plan to do it in a "targeted way, focused and get it done fast." A key hurdle in the process, however, is getting both House and Senate Republicans aligned on a plan. Senate Republicans want to keep a reconciliation package as narrow as possible, while some in the House are eyeing funding the entire Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in one massive bill. GOP RAILS AGAINST 'S--- SANDWICH' DEAL AS ALL EYES TURN TO HOUSE TO END DHS SHUTDOWN Graham said recently that he envisions two reconciliation bills in 2026, one targeting ICE and CBP and another serving as a vehicle for several GOP priorities, including portions of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act and provisions to tackle fraud. "Reconciliation has limits, but we’re going to make a down payment on the SAVE Act in reconciliation in the fall," Graham said Monday on a South Carol…