WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are moving this week to try to reopen the Department of Homeland Security and end the longest partial government shutdown in history.

The first votes could come as soon as Tuesday as GOP leaders attempt a new workaround to unlock the funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. Democrats have blocked money for those agencies since mid-February, demanding policy changes after the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents.

Republicans’ workaround is through budget reconciliation, a complicated process that requires only a simple majority in the Senate, enabling them to bypass the 60-vote filibuster threshold.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized this maneuver as a “partisan sideshow,” emphasizing that it would allocate funds to immigration enforcement without instituting necessary regulations around agency conduct. In contrast, Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated that Republican leaders were running out of time to play negotiations with Democrats as months of talks have stalled.

Republican leaders push through a complex process

The Senate Budget Committee on Tuesday released a $70 billion resolution intended to fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years, expressing a commitment to finalize the bill by May 1. Nonetheless, the inclusion of additional amendments advocating for support in agriculture and for voting legislation remains contentious among party members.

Senators advocating for broader concerns within the resolution are preparing amendments as they press for their inclusion on the Senate floor.

Democrats say reforms still needed at ICE

On the Democratic side, calls for substantial reforms at ICE continue alongside attempts to negotiate the funding bill. Critics argue that without proactive accountability measures put in place, agencies may act without checks and balances, posing a threat to community safety.

The ongoing confrontation illustrates deep ideological divides within Congress, as both parties wrestle with a complex legislative landscape amidst an impending deadline for government funding.