Trump calls Schumer, agrees to split off homeland security funding amid backlash

On Wednesday afternoon, President Trump phoned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in a rare conversation and the two agreed to try to keep the government open and to start talks on new limits on federal immigration agents, including a plan to freeze homeland security spending. Mr.

Schumer said Mr. Trump opened the call saying, “Chuck, I hate shutdowns. I don’t like shutdowns. We’ve got to stop them,” and Mr. Schumer replied, “Well, Mr. President, the thing you have to do is rein in ICE.” The outreach followed a public backlash after two fatal shootings of American citizens by federal immigration agents in Minnesota.

Democratic senators emerged from a caucus meeting united in demanding changes: unmasking immigration agents, ending indiscriminate sweeps, requiring warrants and strict use-of-force guidelines. Several Democrats had said they would not vote for further Department of Homeland Security funding without such new restrictions, with senators including Catherine Cortez Masto and Jeanne Shaheen voicing that position.

Mr. Schumer said he urged Mr. Trump to press Senate Republican leader John Thune to split off homeland security funding, and within an hour the president called back with Mr. Thune, Speaker Mike Johnson and border czar Tom Homan on the line. Mr. Thune was amenable, Mr. Johnson was more reticent, and Democrats insisted on no more than a two-week stopgap to spur quick talks.

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