NEW: Major Breakthrough Emerges Amid DHS Shutdown Standoff

Senate Republicans are scrambling to break the five-and-a-half-week partial government shutdown, floating a plan to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security while cutting out some of the most politically charged immigration programs, according to senior GOP sources familiar with the talks.

The framework began to take shape after a White House meeting late Monday and is expected to dominate discussions at Tuesday’s GOP Conference luncheon on Capitol Hill.

Sources told Fox News reporter Chad Pergram that the Senate could begin moving on a proposal to reopen DHS “as early as tonight.”

Under the emerging plan, Republicans would keep funding for ICE investigations targeting cartels, human traffickers and child predators. But they would leave “enforcement and removal” operations unfunded — a move that mirrors past Democratic demands to strip ICE-related provisions from broader funding bills.

RELATED: Senate Votes To Confirm Trump’s DHS Nominee

That irony isn’t lost on Republicans, who privately acknowledge they are adopting a version of their opponents’ playbook to force a resolution.

“This is the only way out,” one GOP source said of the strategy, describing it as a way to corner Democrats. Republicans argue they are now “calling the Democrats bluff.”

“We’re going to have to move forward and give them what they want,” said one Senate Republican source.

The gamble carries risk. The plan would still need Democratic support to reach the 60-vote threshold required to break a filibuster — and there’s no guarantee Democrats will go along, even though the concept aligns with their past proposals.

The effort also isn’t coordinated with House Republicans, complicating the path forward. Both chambers would need to align on a final deal to reopen DHS.

Meanwhile, anxiety is rising on Capitol Hill over the prolonged shutdown, with lawmakers increasingly worried about national security vulnerabilities and disruptions like long airport lines.

RELATED: Senate Votes To Confirm Trump’s DHS Nominee

Behind the scenes, Republicans are also trying to sideline a separate fight over the SAVE America Act.

GOP leaders are hoping to secure a commitment from Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, to pause pushing the bill until after the Easter and Passover recess. The legislation currently lacks the votes to pass in the Senate.

Instead, Republicans are eyeing a fallback strategy: folding parts of the SAVE America Act into a budget reconciliation package, which would allow passage with a simple majority and bypass a filibuster.

But that path comes with its own hurdles. Senate rules limit reconciliation to fiscal matters, not broad policy changes.

GOP sources say lawmakers may try to focus on the bill’s financial provisions, such as withholding federal funds from states that don’t require photo ID. Even then, the plan could run into resistance from Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, who has the authority to strip out provisions deemed out of bounds under reconciliation rules.

If she rules those elements noncompliant, Republicans could be forced back to the drawing board — prolonging an already messy standoff with no clear end in sight.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>