Will an Immigration Deadlock Cause a Government Shutdown?

Outlets across the spectrum are highlighting the possibility that lawmakers’ disagreements over immigration could result in a government shutdown later this month.

H.R. 2: House Republicans are seeking to pass H.R. 2, a bill that would crack down on companies employing undocumented workers, restrict asylum claims, resume border wall construction, and roll back legal protections for migrant children.

Details: Lawmakers have several weeks to pass a spending bill and avert a shutdown. On Sunday, congressional leaders announced an agreement, but outlets reported backlash from some Republican lawmakers. A handful of Republican lawmakers visited the southern border last week, where House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) called H.R. 2 a “necessary ingredient” and told reporters, “We want to get the border closed and secured first, and we want to make sure we reduce non-defense discretionary spending.” Back in Washington D.C., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said, “We’re not going to get a deal” if Republicans don’t budge on H.R. 2.

Shutdown? HuffPost (Left bias) reported that Congress “could be sleepwalking into a partial government,” while The Hill (Center bias) characterized Republicans as “threatening to shut down the government.” The Washington Times (Lean Right bias) noted one example of such a threat coming from Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), who posted on social media last week, “If [President] Biden won’t shut down the border invasion, Congress must shut down the corrupt government that is funding it!”