Republicans Reject Democrat’s ICE demands
Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated on Thursday that the demands put forth by Democrats for new restrictions on federal immigration officers are “unrealistic” and cautioned that the Department of Homeland Security will face a shutdown next week if they do not collaborate with Republicans and the White House. Democrats have stated that they will not support a DHS spending bill when funding expires unless there are modifications to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal law enforcement agencies following the tragic shootings of two protesters in Minneapolis last month. The Democratic leaders, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, unveiled an expanded list of 10 detailed proposals on Wednesday night aimed at curbing President Donald Trump’s assertive immigration enforcement campaign. Among the demands is a requirement for judicial warrants, improved identification of DHS officers, new standards for the use of force, and an end to racial profiling. Thune, R-SD, remarked that the majority of the demands are “very unrealistic and unserious,” urging Democrats to engage in negotiations. “This is not a blank check situation where Republicans just do agree to a list of Democrat demands,” he said. “The only way to achieve reforms to ICE is to reach an agreement on a bill.”
Schumer expressed that he is “astounded to hear” Republicans claim that his party’s proposals were political or unworkable. “It’s about people’s basic rights, it’s about people’s safety,” Schumer stated. “If Republicans do not like the ideas,” he said, “they need to explain why.” As the two parties exchanged accusations, a DHS shutdown seemed more probable, beginning on February 14. Currently, Thune stated, “we aren’t anywhere close to having any sort of an agreement.” The homeland security bill allocates funding not only for ICE and US Customs and Border Protection but also for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Transportation Security Administration. Thune remarked, “if DHS shuts down, there’s a very good chance we could see more travel problems” akin to the 43-day government closure last year. Schumer and Jeffries, D-NY, have articulated several demands, which encompass masks for officers, judicial warrants, and enhanced federal coordination with local authorities. The list released on Wednesday included several new items, such as a stricter use of force policy, legal safeguards at detention centers, and a prohibition on tracking protesters with body-worn cameras. Democrats assert that Congress must put an end to indiscriminate arrests, “improve warrant procedures and standards,” clarify the law to ensure that officers cannot enter private property without a judicial warrant, and mandate that before detaining an individual, it must be verified that the person is not a US citizen. They also seek an end to racial profiling, asserting that DHS officers should be barred from stopping, questioning, or searching individuals “based on an individual’s presence at certain locations, their job, their spoken language and accent or their race and ethnicity.” Democrats assert that for officers engaged in immigration enforcement, it is essential not only for them to remove their masks and display identification but also for the Department of Homeland Security to regulate and standardize uniforms and equipment, aligning them with other law enforcement agencies.
Schumer referred to it as a “gut check moment for Congress” as the immigration enforcement operations have significantly impacted Minneapolis and other US cities. However, Republicans were dismissive. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the second-ranking Republican senator, characterized the demands as “radical and extreme” and described them as a “far-left wish list.” Sen. Katie Britt, who is playing a key role in the negotiations, remarked that it was “a ridiculous Christmas list of demands. This is NOT negotiating in good faith, and it’s NOT what the American people want,” stated Britt, R-Ala. “They persist in engaging in political maneuvers to appease their radical base, jeopardizing the safety of Americans.” Congress is attempting to renegotiate the DHS spending bill following Trump’s agreement last week to a Democratic request. This request involved separating the bill from a larger spending measure and extending it at current levels for two weeks while negotiations continue between the two parties. However, as nearly a week has passed, the likelihood of a shutdown is growing significantly. Thune has urged Democrats and the White House to engage in dialogue. The situation remains ambiguous regarding their stance and whether Democrats would consider compromising on any of their demands.
Some Republicans have articulated their own demands, which include the introduction of legislation mandating proof of citizenship prior to American voter registration, as well as imposing restrictions on cities that they argue fail to adequately address illegal immigration. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, stated that it is the responsibility of Republicans to prevent a government shutdown, as they hold the reins of power. “The American people want this abuse to stop,” Murphy said. Other lawmakers are exploring avenues to avert another partial shutdown. One idea being considered is to essentially provide funding for various agencies within DHS – the Coast Guard, airport operations under TSA, and disaster assistance from FEMA. “Why not take that off the table?” said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, whose state is in need of FEMA funds from recent disasters. “If it doesn’t look like they can get it done,” he said about the immigration enforcement overhaul, “I really think they should look at a la carte funding of agencies.” Essentially, this would involve severing ties with ICE by permitting it to operate without its regular federal funding, given that the agency already benefits from a substantial budget resulting from Trump’s tax and spending cut legislation from the previous year. ICE is anticipated to obtain approximately $10 billion in the annual appropriations bill, a small portion of the over $175 billion allocated for homeland security in support of the administration’s mass deportation agenda.
