President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has featured numerous abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which have led to a rise in opposition and massive protests. Democrats have retained one powerful piece of leverage: Republicans need Democrats in the Senate to vote for government funding and with another government shutdown looming in mid-February, Democrats have been empowered to make demands that could rein in ICE and other Department of Homeland Security agencies. The catch is that some of Democrats’ demands might just stand to further empower the agency.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., enumerated some of the Democrats’ demands in the Senate earlier this week. They want DHS employees, namely ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers, to unmask and wear clear and visible identification. They’re seeking an end to ICE’s “roving patrols,” use of racial profiling and random arrests. And, they’re seeking to ensure DHS honors the Fourth Amendment and that officers obtain a warrant before forcibly entering someone’s home. Durbin also called for accountability for DHS employees when they smash car windows, deploy chemical weapons and shoot at onlookers and protesters.
