WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate on Thursday failed to advance a funding package amid disputes over immigration policy, increasing the risk of a partial government shutdown.
The upper chamber voted 45-55 in a procedural vote, falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance the House-approved funding package.
With Democrats holding 47 seats in the Senate, the vote tally showed that several Republicans also voted against the plan.
The recent two fatal shootings by federal enforcement in Minneapolis have prompted Democrats to seek changes to how immigration agencies operate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday that until Immigration and Customs Enforcement is properly reined in and overhauled legislatively, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill does not have the votes to pass the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said that he would "reserve optionality" to consider passing the five other funding bills while also considering a short-term continuing resolution for DHS.
Multiple U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services would see their funding lapse beginning Saturday. ■
