Will killings by immigration agents cause another US government shutdown?

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Joseph StepanskyJanuary 29, 2026 at 05:22 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

The United States faces a potential government shutdown as a Friday deadline approaches for Congress to pass a new spending package. The impasse stems from Democratic opposition to funding increases for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following the recent shooting death of Alex Pretti by immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Democrats are demanding stricter regulations on the DHS's use of force as a condition for approving funding. Republicans, who control 53 seats in the Senate, need at least seven Democratic votes to reach the 60-vote threshold required to pass the legislation, which includes funding for several departments, including Defense, Labor, and Education.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Department of Defense 30% Congress 40% Republican Party 50% Tom Homan 50% Minneapolis, Minnesota ×260% Donald Trump 60% Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ×260% Democratic Party ×370% Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 70% Alex Pretti ×280% United States ×290%

Keywords

government shutdown 90% immigration enforcement 80% immigration agents 70% department of homeland security 60% funding legislation 60% use of force 50% border security 40% deportation 40%