The looming shutdown of the U.S. government, scheduled for September 30, 2023, if a federal funding agreement is not reached, is bringing immigration policy into the budget discussions. The Republican Party is grappling with a significant internal divide, particularly between its more conservative members and others. In the House of Representatives, Republicans maintain a narrow majority, while in the Senate, the Democratic Party holds the majority. Should the House manage to pass any of the necessary twelve funding appropriations, it remains unlikely that the Senate will approve them.

A faction of Republican lawmakers stated their refusal to approve proposed federal funding unless certain key items are incorporated. These items include elements from a border security bill passed by the House earlier this year, including funds for resuming the construction of the southern border wall and restrictions on the parole program. Other elements address concerns related to illegal immigration, aligning with demands from the House Freedom Caucus.

As of now, Congress has not finalized any of the twelve annual appropriation bills. House Speaker McCarthy faces challenges in advancing even temporary funding measures to provide Congress with an additional month to determine the full budget for the upcoming fiscal year. A group of conservative Republicans declared their intent to oppose any recommendations that exceed the 2022 budget of $1.47 trillion, which falls $120 billion short of the agreement reached between the Speaker and President Biden in May of this year.

If you have questions about how a government shutdown might impact your immigration matter, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We actively monitor all ongoing updates to make sure you get the right advice. We are with you every step of the way.