In this video from The Bulwark, Managing Editor Sam Stein speaks with Senator Chris Coons (D–DE) about the rapidly unfolding fight over a potential government shutdown and how Democrats are holding ICE accountable.
Senator Coons explains why Democrats are willing to shut down the Department of Homeland Security unless Congress passes real, binding limits on ICE and CBP.
How Dems Are Holding ICE Accountable
He also explains why Democrats agreed to a short-term DHS extension. Rather than trust President Trump to issue an executive order implementing the statutory demands Democrats want, they are taking time to write actual legislation that includes clear standards, such as:
- ICE agents must identify themselves and stop concealing their identities behind masks.
- Agents may no longer roam communities and detain immigrants or U.S. citizens at random to meet enforcement quotas.
- Agents must investigate undocumented immigrants suspected of crimes, locate them, and obtain a judicial warrant before going to their home to make an arrest.
- Additional standards Senator Coons mentions in the video, along with others he does not explicitly discuss.
Senator Coons says that taking the time to write legislation creates a mechanism for holding ICE accountable if agents fail to comply with Democratic standards.
If Democrats were to rely on President Trump issuing an executive order instead, he could choose not to issue it at all or issue it and later revoke it.
By putting their demands into law, Democrats can clearly define the standards they are seeking and ensure there is an enforcement mechanism if ICE agents do not follow those standards.
