White House border czar Tom Homan met with a group of Democratic senators on Thursday to advance efforts to reopen the Department of Homeland Security. The meeting occurred at the Capitol without Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
The hour-long session included senators who had previously defected from Schumer’s position during last year’s government shutdown, which lasted 43 days. Attendees were Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; Senator Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; Senator Angus King, I-Maine; and Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash., a senator who did not support the previous agreement that reopened the government.
Following the meeting, Homan stated he would continue negotiations with Democrats. “We’re going to keep talking,” he said. “We need to get the government open, and we’re going to keep having discussions.”
Murray told reporters both sides remain “a long ways apart” in their efforts to reach an agreement.
Schumer and Democratic leadership had submitted their latest proposal for reopening DHS to the White House earlier this week.
A Senate Republican source indicated that White House negotiators and GOP senators are skeptical about reaching a deal with Schumer. The source suggested the most effective path would be securing commitments from seven or eight Democrats to implement stricter rules, including requiring federal immigration officers to wear body cameras as part of broader reforms.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., stated that Democratic leadership has made no effort toward reaching a deal. “The Democrats seem intent on dragging out this political issue,” Thune said. “We got to have a meaningful conversation where we sit down at the table and actually work these issues out.”
“You can’t get there if you’re not sitting down at the table,” he added.
