Washington– Democratic leaders say the proposal from the White House is “incomplete and inadequate” as they demand new restrictions on President Donald Trump’s policies. Immigration campaign And threatening to close the Department of Homeland Security.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement late Monday that the White House is presenting a counterproposal to the House. List of demands It was sent over the weekend “included neither details nor legislative text” and does not address Americans’ “concerns about ICE’s unlawful conduct.” The White House proposal has not been made public.
The Democrats’ statement comes with limited time Another partial government shutdown Threatening to start on Saturday. Among the Democrats’ demands are requiring judicial warrants, better identification for Department of Homeland Security officers, new standards for the use of force, and an end to racial profiling. They say such changes are necessary after two protesters made the move Deadly shot By federal agents in Minneapolis last month.
Earlier Monday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed optimism about rare negotiations between Democrats and the White House, saying there was “forward progress.”
Thune said it was a good sign that the two sides were exchanging cards, and “I hope they can find common ground here.”
But reaching agreement on the fraught issue of immigration enforcement will be difficult, especially since rank-and-file lawmakers in both parties have been skeptical of finding common ground.
Republicans Democrats’ requests were rejected Some have demands of their own, including adding legislation requiring proof of citizenship before Americans can register to vote, and imposing restrictions on cities they say aren’t doing enough to stamp out illegal immigration.
Many Democrats angry at ICE’s crackdown said they would not vote for another dime of Homeland Security funding until enforcement was radically scaled back.
“Substantial changes are needed at DHS before the DHS funding bill can move forward,” Jeffries said earlier Monday. “Period. Full stop.”
Congress is trying to renegotiate the Department of Homeland Security spending bill after Trump I agreed to the Democrats’ request That would be separated from the larger spending measure that became law last week. That package Extends DHS funding at current levels only through February 13 Establishing a brief window to act while the two sides discuss new restrictions on ICE and other federal officials.
Democrats made demands for new restrictions on ICE and other federal law enforcement agencies after an ICU nurse Alex Pretty He was shot and killed by a US Border Patrol officer in Minneapolis on January 24, and some Republicans have indicated that new restrictions are necessary. Rene is good He was shot by ICE agents on January 7.
While he agreed to separate the funding, Trump has not publicly responded to Democrats’ specific demands.
White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said late last week that the Trump administration was willing to discuss some of the items on the Democrats’ list, but “others appear not to be based on any common sense, and they are not appropriate for this administration.”
Schumer and Jeffries said they want immigration officers to do that Remove their masksTo better demonstrate identity and coordination with local authorities. They also called for a stricter use-of-force policy for federal officers, legal safeguards in detention centers and a ban on tracking protesters with body cameras.
Among other demands, Democrats say Congress should end random arrests, “improve procedures and standards for warrants,” make sure the law is clear so officers cannot enter private property without a warrant, and require verification that a person is not a U.S. citizen before detaining someone.
Republicans said they support requiring DHS officers to have body cameras — language that was in the original DHS bill — but rejected several other Democratic demands.
“Removing masks from ICE officers and agents, the reason we can’t do that is because that would put them at great risk, their families at great risk because people are attacking them and targeting them,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Monday. “We have to talk about things that are sensible and achievable.”
Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty said on “Fox News Sunday” that Democrats are “trying to galvanize a far-left base.”
“The left has gone to extremes, and they are threatening the safety and security of our agents, so they can’t do their jobs,” Hagerty said.
In addition to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Protection, the Homeland Security bill includes funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Transportation Security Administration. Thune said last week that if DHS closes, “there’s a very good chance we’ll see more travel issues” similar to what happened in the travel crisis. A 43-day government shutdown last year.
Lawmakers in both parties have suggested they could defund ICE and Border Patrol and pass the rest by Friday. But Thune was cool about that idea, saying instead that Congress should pass another short-term extension for all of DHS while potential new restrictions are negotiated.
“If additional time is needed, we hope Democrats will be amenable to another extension,” Thune said.
Many Democrats are unlikely to vote for another extension. But Republicans would likely win enough votes in both chambers from Democrats if they felt hopeful about negotiations.
“The ball is in the Republicans’ court,” Jeffries said Monday.
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Associated Press writers Joy Cappelletti and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.