After federal agents shot and killed American citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretty in Minneapolis last month, Democrats Republicans have refused to support long-term funding for the Department of Homeland Security unless they agree to reforms to the tactics of federal agents enforcing Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
“The American people expect their elected representatives to take action to rein in ICE and prevent more lives from being lost,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his House counterpart, Hakeem Jeffries, issued a letter Wednesday night. 10 Formal demands GOP leadership to avert a February 13 funding shortfall for the department that oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the US Border Patrol.
Republicans, who control both chambers, have already rejected many of the ideas Democrats explained, but Democrats are expected to push legislation to codify their proposals.
The Democrats’ full list of demands follows:
1. Target execution
DHS officials cannot enter private property without a judicial warrant. End indiscriminate arrests and improve warrant procedures and standards. Verification that a person is not a US citizen is required before being placed in immigration detention.
2. No masks
Prohibit ICE and immigration enforcement agents from wearing masks and other face coverings.
3. ID is required
DHS officials conducting immigration enforcement are required to display their agency, unique ID number and last name. Ask them to verbalize their ID number and last name if asked.
4. Protect sensitive locations
Prohibit funds from being used for enforcement near sensitive locations including medical facilities, schools, child care facilities, churches, polling places, courts, etc.
5. Stop racial profiling
Prohibit DHS officers from conducting stops, questioning, and searches of a person based on their specific locations, their occupation, their spoken language and accent, or their race or ethnicity.
6. Uphold energy-consumption standards
Reasonable use of force requires expanded training and certification of officers. In the event of an incident, the official must be removed from the field until the investigation is complete.
7. Ensure state and local coordination and oversight
Preserve the ability of state and local jurisdictions to investigate and prosecute potential crimes and the use of excessive force incidents. Requires evidence to be preserved and shared with jurisdiction. Large-scale operations outside of targeted immigration enforcement require the consent of states and localities.
8. Build safeguards into the system
Clarify that all buildings where individuals are detained must adhere to the same basic detention standards that require a person’s attorney to be consulted immediately to prevent civilian arrests or detention. Allow states to sue DHS for violations of all requirements. Prohibit restrictions on member visits to ICE facilities regardless of how they are funded.
9. Body cameras for accountability, not tracking
Require the use of body-worn cameras when interacting with the public and mandate requirements for storing and accessing footage. Prohibit tracking, creating, or maintaining databases of individuals who engage in First Amendment activities.
10. There is no paramilitary police
Regulate and standardize the type of uniforms and equipment carried by DHS officers during enforcement activities to bring them into line with civil enforcement.
