Democrats Cast Shutdown Fight as a Win. But What Did They Actually Get?

Democrats ended a partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security without securing new limits on immigration enforcement, despite insisting on reforms for over a month. The deal restored funding for most of DHS, but Democrats agreed to forgo demands like a ban on masked agents or judicial warrants for immigration officers to enter homes. This resolution has prompted both Democratic and Republican leaders to accuse the other side of "caving" in the standoff. President Donald Trump has signed orders to pay much of DHS out of other funds, and the Republican-led House has yet to approve the deal. Republicans are now pursuing a budget reconciliation process to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, which could bypass the Senate filibuster.