Negotiations in the U.S. Senate over a government funding bill have encountered new obstacles, significantly increasing the risk of a partial federal government shutdown on Saturday. The bill was intended to ensure uninterrupted operating funds for various government agencies.

Senate Democrats and U.S. President Trump previously announced an agreement, under which Congress would pass a spending bill covering multiple areas of government operations, including defense and healthcare programs. Concurrently, both sides agreed to negotiate on new restrictions related to the Trump administration's tightened immigration policies.

However, late Thursday evening Eastern Time, legislative action in the Senate ground to a halt after some lawmakers voiced opposition to the agreement.

The Senate is scheduled to reconvene at 11:00 AM Friday Eastern Time (12:00 AM Saturday Beijing Time), while the current government funding authorization is set to expire at midnight.

Even if the Senate passes the agreement, the bill would still require approval from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which is currently in recess until February 2nd. House Speaker Mike Johnson stated on Thursday Eastern Time that it would be extremely difficult to bring lawmakers back to Washington for a vote before the midnight deadline.

The agreement separates funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from the comprehensive funding package, ensuring that disputes over immigration enforcement would not affect other government agencies such as the Pentagon and the Department of Labor.

Last weekend, another incident in Minneapolis, where immigration enforcement officers shot a U.S. citizen, sparked strong dissatisfaction among Senate Democrats. They had previously threatened to hold up the funding package to pressure the Trump administration to impose constraints on the DHS, which oversees federal immigration enforcement.

Democrats have proposed new restrictions on federal immigration enforcement officers, including ending roving patrols, prohibiting the wearing of face masks, and mandating the use of body cameras.

According to the agreement, funding for the Department of Homeland Security would be extended for two weeks, allowing time for negotiating parties to reach a consensus on immigration enforcement strategies.

The shooting death of nurse Alex Pretti by federal officers last Saturday sparked widespread public outrage and prompted the Trump administration to scale back the intensity of immigration enforcement actions in the area. Pretti was the second U.S. citizen with no criminal record to be fatally shot by immigration enforcement officers this month.