Posted on 07/08/2018 10:51:07 AM PDT by yesthatjallen
The spotlight on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is about to become brighter as Congress weighs the Trump administration’s request for a huge spending boost even as a growing number of Democrats want the agency abolished.
The administration is pressing Congress for $8.3 billion in discretionary funding for ICE in fiscal 2019 — a $967 million increase over this year’s budget. Democrats are already balking at the figure out of early concern that Republicans will designate the money for bolstering enforcement efforts, including an acceleration of deportations.
The Democratic resistance is significant because the Republicans will need support from the other side of the aisle to approve any new spending bills, as the GOP remains divided over fiscal issues.
“These allocations continue to prioritize President Trump's cruel immigration policies,” Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, warned last month.
The debate over ICE enforcement, a controversial issue even under former President Obama, has only intensified under Trump, who made a get-tough approach on immigration central to his campaign message in 2016.
The subsequent backlash has arrived in the form of Democratic calls to abolish ICE, a once-fringe movement that’s gained steam in recent weeks following the shocking primary defeat of Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 28-year-old activist who made the elimination of ICE — and the reallocation of its duties — a central component of her campaign.
The top Democratic leaders — Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) — have both pushed back against the “abolish ICE” message, arguing that reforming the agency is the preferable route. But Ocasio-Cortez has been joined by a handful of prominent liberal Democrats, including several 2020 presidential contenders hoping to remain on the popular side of the party’s liberal base. That list of supporters includes New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) and Cory Booker (N.J.).
Republicans have wasted no time attacking Democrats with accusations that eliminating ICE would shield immigrants in the country illegally, including some violent criminals, at the expense of public safety.
Speaking to ICE employees on Friday in Washington, Vice President Pence praised the group as “incredible patriots,” seeking to carve a clear distinction between the parties when it comes to the preserving the future of ICE and boosting its resources.
“The truth is that calls to abolish ICE are not just outrageous, they're irresponsible,” Pence said. “In this White House, let me be clear: We are with you 100 percent.”
The emotional back-and-forth sets the stage for a feisty debate over the future and funding of ICE when appropriators tackle the task later in the summer, just months before the high-stakes November midterm elections.
ETC...
It is also clear that the deep state owns the current FBI, so disband it and start over.
Keep it up Dems. And Republicans need to run the meme that the Dems want open borders. If played right by the Republicans it will be a blowout against the Dems in November and relegate the Dems to a generation in minority status.
I do not like the word ‘elimination’. I would change it to ENHANCED ICE. ICE ON STEROIDS, etc.
Until a high profile Dem or media person is attacked by MS-13 or other illegal invaders, they won’t realize the danger.
Take a lesson from Hungary.
They DID build a WALL. Cut down their illegal invaders to less than 3% of what they had been dealing with. And they sent the bill for the wall to the EU.
This is a fight that Trump and the Republicans should welcome. By all means, hold Congressional hearings and let the Democrats run wild. Televise them on the national networks like the Nixon Watergate Hearings. The Democrats collapse in the congressional races would be epic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.