Senate Democrats unveiled official policy demands to restrict President Donald Trump’s sweeping deportation agenda on Wednesday that they say Congress must address before approving a federal funding bill.
The “legislative objectives,” as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) described them, mark a starting negotiation position from Democrats ahead of a Friday night funding deadline that is on pace to result in a partial government shutdown.
“What ICE is doing is state-sanctioned thuggery. It must stop,” Schumer said, referencing the fatal shootings of civilians in Minnesota by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agents. “Republicans must work with Democrats to find legislative solutions to restore order and public safety. Congress has the authority and the moral obligation to act.”
Schumer laid out three overarching policy demands.
The first is for ICE and other federal officers to “end roving patrols,” “tighten” warrant requirements, and mandate “ICE’s coordination with state and local law enforcement.”
The second is a “uniform code of conduct and accountability” that is similar to use-of-force rules for local police.
And the third is prohibiting the use of masks while requiring body cameras and carrying identification.
“These are common-sense reforms, ones that Americans know and expect from law enforcement,” Schumer said. “If Republicans refuse to support them, they are choosing chaos over order.”
Some of the proposals appeared purposefully vague, as Democrats look to maximize their leverage and negotiating position to force Trump to pull back on mass deportation operations in Minnesota and elsewhere across the country. Questions remained over how Democrats want to change warrant requirements, such as whether they would seek to extend them beyond warrantless home raids to include any apprehensions of suspected illegal immigrants.
Republicans have held firm against altering the spending legislation passed by the House last week.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) rebuffed calls from Democrats to split funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, from the broader appropriations legislation. Some Republican senators had warmed to the idea Wednesday morning before later downplaying it that afternoon following a closed-door meeting.
Thune is advocating that Democrats negotiate concessions from the White House, but Democrats have made it a red line that policy changes be written into law, as they do not trust the administration to follow through.
“I think the best path forward, as I’ve said, is to keep the package intact,” Thune said. “And if there are things that the Democrats want, that the administration can agree with them about, then let’s do that.”
DEMOCRATS DRAW RED LINE ON NEW ICE GUARDRAILS: ‘FIX SHOULD COME FROM CONGRESS’
Even with a shutdown and no new funding for the DHS, ICE deportation operations will continue using funds provided by Trump’s mega tax law last year. Still, Democrats see themselves as having no other option but to resist the administration’s aggressive deportation tactics.
“This is not like some wish list,” Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) said. “This is, like, really practical, common-sense stuff that would actually go a long way towards minimizing the harm that we’re seeing in Minnesota.”
