Negotiations continue, but no apparent progress on ICE enforcement
Congressional leaders said on Tuesday that a deal still is possible with the White House on Homeland Security Department funding before it expires this weekend, The Associated Press reports.
“We simply want ICE to follow the same standards that most law enforcement agencies across America already follow,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. “Democrats await the next answer from our Republican counterparts.”
“There’s no reason we can’t do this” by the end of the week, Schumer said after meeting with his caucus on Tuesday.
And Senate Majority Leader John Thune said there have been “some really productive conversations.”
A White House official said the Trump administration was having constructive talks with both Republicans and Democrats.
Senate Democrats and Republicans spent much of Tuesday at odds over whether to pass a short-term measure to buy more time before current funding for DHS runs out on Friday night, Roll Call reports.
In addition to ICE and U.S. Customs 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 shuts down, “there’s a very good chance we could see more travel problems” similar to the 43-day government closure last year.
At Tuesday’s House Homeland Security Committee hearing, a few Republicans expressed concern about ICE enforcement.
Committee Chairman Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., asked the witnesses from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and Citizenship and Immigration Services for details on training new hires.
“Your officers are not trained to effectively crowd-control,” said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, who isn’t running for reelection.
Democrats also raised concerns about immigration officers wearing masks on duty, a practice they hope to outlaw. Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, said there have been assaults on ICE officers and a “massive” increase in death threats, making masks necessary, The Washington Post reports.
Lyons said more than 3,000 body cameras are in use, with more than 6,000 being deployed, on a total force of about 13,000 agents in the field.
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