Democratic leaders have rejected the White House’s latest counter‑proposal on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling it “incomplete and insufficient” as the deadline for Homeland Security funding looms.
Democrats balk at White House ICE offer
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a statement late Monday saying the administration’s response “included neither details nor legislative text” and fails to address “the concerns Americans have about ICE’s lawless conduct.” The White House proposal has not been released publicly.
The Democrats warned that a partial government shutdown could begin Saturday unless their demands are met. Their list includes requiring judicial warrants for ICE actions, improving identification of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, establishing novel use‑of‑force standards and ending racial profiling. They argue these changes are necessary after two protesters were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis last month.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said there was “forward progress” in the rare negotiations, but both parties remain skeptical about finding common ground on the charged issue of immigration enforcement.
Rank‑and‑file Democrats who oppose ICE’s aggressive crackdown have declared they will not vote for any further Homeland Security funding until enforcement is “radically scaled back.” Jeffries emphasized, “Dramatic changes are needed at the Department of Homeland Security before a DHS funding bill moves forward. Period. Full stop.”
Other developments
- Donald Trump threatened to block the Gordie Howe International Bridge linking the United States and Canada and claimed, without evidence, that increased trade with Canada and China would ban Canadians from playing ice hockey.
- The Miami Herald reported a partially redacted Epstein file shows a 2006 phone call in which Trump told the Palm Beach police chief that “everyone has known” Jeffrey Epstein was abusing girls and described Ghislaine Maxwell as “evil.” Trump now says he had no knowledge of the abuse.
- An immigration judge dismissed the Trump administration’s attempt to deport Tufts University doctoral student Rümeysa Öztürk, who was arrested last year during a crackdown on pro‑Palestinian campus activists. Read the statement.
- The U.S. Southern Command announced it carried out a lethal kinetic strike on Monday, killing two suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific. Details.
- A federal judge in California issued a preliminary injunction blocking part of a new state law that would ban federal law‑enforcement officers from covering their faces. Read the injunction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Democrats’ main demands regarding ICE?
They want judicial warrants for ICE actions, clearer identification of DHS officers, new use‑of‑force standards and an end to racial profiling, citing recent fatal shootings of protesters in Minneapolis.
Why is a partial government shutdown possible?
The funding for the Department of Homeland Security is set to expire, and without an agreement on the new funding bill, a partial shutdown could begin Saturday, according to the Associated Press.
What happened with the bridge project mentioned by Donald Trump?
Trump threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a $4.6 billion project connecting Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan, claiming the United States must be fully compensated and treated fairly by Canada.
How do you think these negotiations will shape immigration policy in the coming months?
