Democratic congressional leaders last night issued a 10-point list of demands for changes to the Department of Homeland Security and the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement. Key Republicans quickly dismissed the list, and with serious negotiations reportedly yet to get underway, a bipartisan deal appears to be a long shot.
The list from Democratic leaders echoed and expanded on their previously stated demands. “Federal immigration agents cannot continue to cause chaos in our cities while using taxpayer money that should be used to make life more affordable for working families,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer wrote in a letter to their Republican counterparts. “The American people rightfully expect their elected representatives to take action to rein in ICE and ensure no more lives are lost. It is critical that we come together to impose common sense reforms and accountability measures that the American people are demanding.”
Here are shortened versions of the 10 points in their letter:
- Targeted enforcement requiring judicial warrants for DHS officers to enter private property and verification that any would-be detainees are not U.S. citizens.
- No masks for ICE and immigration enforcement agents.
- Require body cameras for federal agents interacting with the public, but the cameras cannot be used to track or create databases of people “participating in First Amendment activities.”
- Require Identification for DHS officers conducting immigration enforcement and require them to say their ID number and last name if asked.
- No enforcement activity at sensitive locations, including medical facilities, schools, child-care facilities, churches, polling places and courts.
- No racial profiling or stops based on an individual’s presence at specific locations.
- Uphold a use-of-force policy that includes having officers involved in an incident removed from the field until an investigation is conducted.
- Ensure state and local coordination, including the ability to investigate and prosecute potential crimes and use of excessive force incidents.
- Ensure safeguards and standards for buildings where people are detained, including the ability for states to sue DHS for violations and no limitations on visits by members of Congress to ICE facilities.
- No “paramilitary” police, meaning uniforms and equipment should be standardized and in line with civil enforcement.
The Democratic letter added that the Trump administration can take steps to show good faith, “including fully ramping down the surge in Minnesota and removing Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem from her position.”
Republicans reject ‘ridiculous’ list: Republicans have already rejected some of Democrats’ demands and have pressed to have any funding deal include some GOP priorities, such as a crackdown on sanctuary cities and legislation to require proof of citizenship when Americans register to vote.
“Democrats’ newest proposal is a ridiculous Christmas list of demands for the press,” Sen. Katie Britt, the lead negotiator for Republicans, said in a post on X late Wednesday night. “This is NOT negotiating in good faith, and it’s NOT what the American people want. They continue to play politics to their radical base at the expense of the safety of Americans. DHS, FEMA, Secret Service, and the Coast Guard run out of money in 9 days. Democrats don’t seem to care one bit.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune was only a bit less dismissive. “There are a few things that there’s probably some room to negotiate on,” Thune reportedly said. “But a lot of that stuff obviously just wasn’t serious.
Looking to minimize other disruptions: Optimism is running low that a DHS funding deal can be reached by the February 13 deadline. Thune told reporters he is prepared to take procedural steps early next week to set up another stopgap bill extending DHS funding. The GOP leader has also suggested that the best way to resolve the DHS standoff is with a full-year continuing resolution that keeps current funding levels in place through September. House Democrats, meanwhile, may soon introduce a DHS funding bill that excludes money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.