Senate Democrats are cautiously optimistic about a potential agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security. But it's far from a done deal.

Senate Democrats are cautiously optimistic about a potential agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security. But it’s far from a done deal.

As negotiations ramp up on Capitol Hill to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, Senate Democrats seem to be clinging to a particular word: reforms.

It was a term party leaders used in the context of Immigration and Customs Enforcement nearly two dozen times during a March 24 news conference.

The refrain threw cold water on a new GOP compromise to fund the critical agency — minus ICE’s enforcement and removal operations — and end a crisis that has upended air travel across the country.

“Democrats are continuing to push for modest reforms,” Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters. “The current Republican offer in front of us does not do that.”

  • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
    231·
    19 hours ago

    Democrats are fighting for no masks and that ICE actually has to have real warrants.

    In meetings with lawmakers, White House officials have demonstrated an openness to at least some of the concessions Democrats want. They’ve committed to expanding the use of body-worn cameras, reforming agent trainings and bolstering requirements for officers to identify themselves when conducting immigration enforcement. Pain points have remained, however, over masking and warrants.

    • 🇵🇸antifa_ceo@lemmy.mlEnglish
      31·
      19 hours ago

      Which is fine and dandy but ignores the fact that ICE is a literal gestapo that needs to be wholesale dismantled not made marginally less bad.

      • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works
        91·
        19 hours ago

        You’re not wrong, they should be doing way more. Trump and fellow republicans won’t even agree to that when their own base isn’t betting paid.

      • krisevol@lemmus.orgEnglish
        59·
        19 hours ago

        Ice deported more people during the Obama administration that now. Dems love ice, they hate when the public find out about what they do though. It’s all virtue signaling, nothing more.

        • grue@lemmy.world
          123·
          17 hours ago

          I’m pretty sure ICE under Obama wasn’t grabbing random brown people off the street with no warrant and murdering people who protested about it, though.

          The actual immigration purpose of ICE might be less effective under Trump, but he sure as Hell ratcheted up the jackbooted thuggery!

    • Goferking0@ttrpg.network
      79·
      19 hours ago

      Democrats are fighting for no masks and that ICE actually has to have real warrants.

      So basically nothing. Not even the bare minimum just giving the appearance of addressing issues as always.

      Especially when the body camera part is just to help expand ice surveillance rather than help citizens.