The Powers That Be: Daily The G.O.P.’s ICE Box
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Apr 2, 2026 A deep dive into the Republican plan to secure long-term DHS and ICE funding and how that could block Democratic reform. A breakdown of the two-track Senate approach and why parts of the GOP pushed back. A look at the behind-the-scenes maneuvers around House leadership and which figures are positioning to replace Mike Johnson.
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Republicans' Two Track To Lock In ICE Funding
- Republicans agreed on a two-track plan to fund DHS now and ICE/Border Patrol later via reconciliation.
- House would pass the Senate DHS bill while a separate reconciliation package would fund ICE/Border Patrol for up to three years, sidelining Democrats.
House Pushback Was Political, Not Procedural
- House conservatives initially rejected the Senate DHS bill because leaders framed it as effectively defunding ICE and opening borders.
- Tom Cole warned members it would play poorly in primaries, turning a Senate compromise into a House nonstarter.
Plan Reconciliation With The Parliamentarian Timeline
- Expect reconciliation to require careful timing and parliamentary work, so set realistic deadlines like June 1st.
- Caldwell notes the senate parliamentarian and procedural steps make reconciliation a multi-week process, not an instant fix.