Democrats make counteroffer on ICE reforms as DHS shutdown continues

Democratic lawmakers presented their counteroffer on immigration enforcement reforms on Monday, intensifying negotiations to secure funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as the agency faces continued partial shutdown. The proposal, which comes amid heightened tensions over immigration policy, represents the latest development in ongoing discussions between Democrats and Republicans about how to reshape Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations while keeping the critical security agency operational. The counteroffer follows initial proposals from both sides and reflects Democrats' attempts to balance border security concerns with their reform priorities, though specific details of the new offer remain limited as of Monday's announcement. The DHS funding impasse has created uncertainty for thousands of federal employees and has raised concerns about potential vulnerabilities in national security operations as the standoff continues into its second week.