Senate Democrats on Wednesday revealed the DHS restrictions they need in exchange for helping Republicans avert a shutdown Friday night, including the tightening of rules on warrants.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer outlined the asks after a closed-door caucus meeting, telling reporters that Democrats were united around “common sense and necessary policy goals.”
The list – featuring several demands previously reported by POLITICO – also included a prohibition on agents using masks, mandates for body cameras and IDs and a “uniform code of conduct and accountability,” including requiring independent investigations of incidents like Saturday’s fatal shooting of Alex Pretti.
“Republicans must work with Democrats to find legislative solutions,” Schumer said.
Wednesday’s caucus meeting was the first time Senate Democrats had gathered in person and talked strategy since the killing of Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.
The shooting and the initial response by top administration officials have fueled widespread calls for changes to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement strategy. On Capitol Hill, it has upended the debate over government funding ahead of Friday’s midnight shutdown deadline.
The Senate will vote Thursday on a six-bill package that would fund several departments, including DHS. But Democrats have demanded that Senate Majority Leader John Thune strip out the DHS bill and negotiate new policy changes for immigration agencies. Senators are widely expecting the bill to fail to advance Thursday, which would force them to pivot to a Plan B.
“There has to be accountability,” Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said. “This is not like some wish list. This is like really practical, common sense stuff that would actually go a long way towards minimizing the harm that we’re seeing in Minnesota right now.”
Republicans are loath to strip out the Department of Homeland Security bill because any changes to the funding package would require it to go back to the House, where GOP hardliners are already vowing to throw up roadblocks.
Though talks have been ongoing between Senate Republicans, Democrats and the White House, Republicans have been waiting for Schumer to outline specifically what Democrats want.
“There’s been overtures and attempts to try to connect on what they want and then see if it’s something the administration could accommodate without having to change the language of the bill,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters.
But Schumer said the “White House has had no specific, concrete ideas.”
Without a deal to pass the funding package as is, a partial government shutdown will start Saturday. Privately, Republicans are hoping if there is a partial shutdown that they would be able to negotiate an off-ramp by Monday or early next week.
Republicans have floated that the administration could take executive actions to address some of Democrats’ concerns.
But Smith dismissed that Wednesday, adding, “If you believe that I’ve got a bridge.”
