President Donald Trump is accusing Democrats of being “totally unreasonable” in negotiations over funding the Department of Homeland Security.
“The Democrats’ purposeful DHS SHUTDOWN is causing chaos at the airports. These Lunatics are being totally unreasonable in their Radical Left asks,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Wednesday.
“They are FULLY TO BLAME, and must pay a big price, for the good of our country, in the midterm elections,” Trump added.
Democrats have continued to demand that funding for the agency be dependent upon major immigration enforcement reforms. Republicans refuse to agree to many of the Democrats’ demands, such as requiring immigration agents to unmask themselves while conducting enforcement operations.
A month into the DHS shutdown, negotiators remain “far apart,” according to a senior White House official.
More than two weeks ago, the Trump administration sent congressional Democrats an offer that was both “reasonable” and “serious,” the White House official said. The proposal centered on codifying certain operational immigration enforcement guidelines into law, but Democrats responded Monday night “with a counteroffer that does not indicate the seriousness that this moment needs,” the official said.
Democrats’ offer to the Trump administration was “disappointing,” the senior White House official said, adding he would not provide details. According to the official, “the parties are far apart in large part because the administration’s put forward a five-part serious proposal that we are willing to engage in additional conversations on, but that has not been reciprocated in kind.”
Five-Part Trump Administration Proposal
The White House on Tuesday released a letter to Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., who sits on the committee, outlining the five areas in which the Trump administration has told Democrats they are willing to “codify improved operational guidelines.”
First, the administration told Democrats they will expand the use of body cameras for DHS agents during immigration operations.
Second, the Trump administration is pledging to limit the locations where immigration enforcement operations take place and stop conducting operations at places like schools and hospitals, unless doing so for reasons of national security, public safety, or due to a flight risk.
The proposal to Democrats also included increased oversight of detention facilities.
Fourth, the administration proposed requiring immigration officers to clearly display their identification as a DHS law enforcement official and clearly state their agency and identity when asked.
Finally, the Trump administration said it will “adhere to existing law and practice of not deporting any U.S. citizen and will codify current practice of not knowingly detaining a U.S. citizen, except when the person violates a state or federal law that makes the citizen subject to arrest.”
Border czar Tom Homan and Assistant to the President James Braid signed the letter to Democrats.
Many DHS workers continue to work without pay, including Transportation Security Administration workers. The failure of Democrats and Republicans to reach an agreement to fund the agency followed the Trump administration’s controversial immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis that involved the shooting of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in January.
