Sen. Lindsey Graham calls treatment of ICE officers 'unconscionable'
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has called the treatment of ICE officers "unconscionable" as he was asked about his objections to proceeding on a government funding deal on Thursday, sending the government ever closer to a partial shutdown with a little more than 24 hours until funding runs out.
"From a Republican point of view, the cops need us right now. They are being demonized. They're being spat upon. They can't sleep at night," Graham said. "Are they right to want to change some ICE procedures? Absolutely. But I'm not going to lead this debate for two weeks before I can explain to the American people what I think the problem is. The problem is, structurally, for four years, the country was ruined."
If Senators can't win over the objectors by Friday, they'll force the government into a partial shutdown. The Senate will reconvene at 11 a.m. Friday to see if they can reach an agreement.
Any agreement they do reach would still need to be approved by the House, so at least a brief partial shutdown is, at this stage, highly likely.
-ABC News' Allison Pecorin and Rachel Scott






