Senate Funding Deal, Border Czar Homan In Minnesota, Georgia Election Ballots Seized

Summary of Senate Funding Deal, Border Czar Homan In Minnesota, Georgia Election Ballots Seized

by NPR

13m•January 30, 2026
Listen to Episode

Overview of Up First — "Senate Funding Deal, Border Czar Homan In Minnesota, Georgia Election Ballots Seized"

This episode of NPR's Up First (hosts Leila Fadel and Steve Inskeep) covers three main news items: a Senate deal to fund most federal agencies while isolating Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding for further negotiation, the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement posture in Minneapolis and a proposed drawdown by border czar Tom Homan, and the FBI seizure of 2020 election materials from Fulton County, Georgia. Reporters from the field explain the mechanics, motives, and likely near-term consequences of each story.

Key takeaways

  • Senators reached a short-term funding deal to keep most government agencies funded while removing DHS funding from the package for separate negotiation; a brief partial shutdown appears likely because of House timing and required votes.
  • Senate Democrats are pushing specific DHS reforms in response to recent deadly incidents involving federal immigration agents: limits on administrative/warrantless home entries, independent investigations and civil accountability, and visible identification/body cameras for agents.
  • Tom Homan (Trump’s border adviser) said the administration is considering pulling some immigration agents out of Minnesota and shifting enforcement priorities to people with criminal records, but provided no timeline or clear implementation plan; local officials and activists remain skeptical.
  • The FBI seized roughly 650 boxes of ballots, tabulator tapes, ballot scan images and voter rolls from Fulton County, GA, under a sealed affidavit and warrant, raising concerns about federal involvement in election administration during an election year.
  • Many details remain sealed or unsettled (the FBI affidavit, precise legal theories, and specific drawdown plans), so follow-up developments are likely to shape the political and legal consequences.

Senate funding deal — what it does and why it matters

Mechanics

  • The Senate plan separates DHS funding from five bipartisan appropriations bills that would fund most other agencies.
  • Removing DHS funding gives negotiators a two-week window to hammer out reforms specific to immigration enforcement.
  • Because either chamber’s changes require re-passage in the other chamber, and the House is out this week, a short shutdown is highly probable; the shutdown could be brief if the House acts quickly when it returns.

Democratic priorities for DHS

  • End or limit "roving patrols": curb use of administrative (non-judicial) warrants for home entries; push for judicial warrants.
  • Create stronger, independent investigations and civil avenues to hold immigration officers accountable for misconduct.
  • Require visible identification for agents, discourage face coverings that hide identity, and mandate body cameras.

Republican response

  • Some Republicans have signaled willingness to revisit administrative warrants and to investigate after high-profile killings, but GOP views remain split—some see additional mandates as unnecessary.

Minneapolis and the reported drawdown of federal agents

What officials say

  • Tom Homan suggested some federal agents might be pulled out of Minnesota and said enforcement would prioritize migrants with criminal records; he stressed making operations "safer" and "by the book."
  • Homan gave no timeline or detailed plan; he tied reductions to local cooperation (e.g., access to jails/prisons).

On-the-ground situation

  • Federal arrests continue across Minnesota, especially in Minneapolis; activists report ongoing enforcement and community disruptions (students stopped, neighbors fearful).
  • Mayor Jacob Frey welcomed any drawdown but insisted the aggressive operations must end.
  • Protesters remain skeptical and wary; mutual-aid groups are assisting families affected by arrests (rent, bills) and are calling for state measures like eviction protections.

Risks and community impact

  • Even if agents reduce street presence, many immigrant households face lingering harms (lost wages, fear of leaving home, interrupted livelihoods).
  • Organizers plan more strikes/protests; tensions remain high and the situation could remain volatile.

Fulton County ballot seizure — what happened and why it matters

The seizure

  • The FBI removed roughly 650 boxes containing ballots, tabulator tapes, scanned ballot images and voter lists from Fulton County (Atlanta area) under a search warrant approved by a judge; the affidavit is sealed.
  • The warrant cites criminal statutes related to fraudulent counting of ballots and requirements for retaining election records; details of the investigation and evidence remain under seal.

Context and concerns

  • Fulton County was a central target of post-2020 fraud claims and legal challenges; those claims have been repeatedly debunked and the election results were certified by bipartisan officials.
  • The seizure follows ongoing legal and political fights over access to election materials and comes amid broader federal actions and litigation around election administration.
  • The presence of Tulsi Gabbard at the site (reported by NPR) and White House statements about preventing rigged elections have heightened concerns among state and local election officials about federal interference during an election year.

Unanswered questions

  • What specific evidence justified the seizure (the affidavit is sealed)?
  • Are there statute-of-limitations issues given the time elapsed since the 2020 election?
  • What are the implications for election administration, public trust, and midterm politics?

Implications and recommended monitoring

  • Short-term shutdown risk: Watch House action early next week to see how long any lapse lasts and whether DHS funding is resolved.
  • DHS reform negotiations: Expect bargaining over administrative warrants, independent oversight, ID/body-cam requirements, and new accountability mechanisms.
  • Minneapolis enforcement: Look for announcements clarifying any drawdown plan, timelines, and criteria for arrests; track state-local cooperation agreements (e.g., jail access).
  • Fulton County probe: Monitor court filings (sealed affidavit, later unsealing decisions), DOJ statements, and responses from Georgia officials; this could influence election administration debates and litigation ahead of midterms.

Notable quotes and soundbites

  • "The plan would allow them to approve the five bipartisan bills that fund other agencies and take Homeland Security Department's funding part out and essentially temporarily strip it out." — summary of the Senate approach.
  • Tom Homan: Said federal agents could be pulled out of Minnesota and emphasized prioritizing those with criminal records (no timeline provided).
  • Local reaction (Minneapolis mayor): Any drawdown is a step in the right direction, but "the search must end."

Participants and production credits

  • Hosts: Leila Fadel and Steve Inskeep
  • Field/reporting: Jimena Bastillo (on funding deal), Sergio Martinez Beltran (Minneapolis), Stephen Fowler (Atlanta)
  • Production/editing credits listed in episode: Anna Yukonanoff, Gigi Dubon, Ben Swayze, Mohamed Elbardisi, Alice Wolfley; producers Ziad Butch, Ava Pukic, Christopher Thomas; technical and executive staff also credited.

Bottom line: The episode covers an unfolding funding compromise that isolates DHS for tougher negotiations, an uncertain federal drawdown in Minneapolis with significant community consequences, and a controversial FBI seizure of 2020 election materials in Fulton County that raises legal and political questions going into an election year.