Senate Democrats are cautiously optimistic about a potential agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security. But it's far from a done deal.

As negotiations ramp up on Capitol Hill to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, Senate Democrats seem to be clinging to a particular word: reforms.

It was a term party leaders used in the context of Immigration and Customs Enforcement nearly two dozen times during a March 24 news conference.

The refrain threw cold water on a new GOP compromise to fund the critical agency — minus ICE's enforcement and removal operations — and end a crisis that has upended air travel across the country.

"Democrats are continuing to push for modest reforms," Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters. "The current Republican offer in front of us does not do that."

top 50 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] 151 points 5 months ago (9 children)

"Democrats are continuing to push for modest reforms" is the most 2026 quote I've ever read.

  • source
  • hideshow 9 child comments
  • [–] 38 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    "Will they capitulate at the smallest change and a promise of republicans maybe, possibly, potentially sneezing at the thought of doing anything different? Stay tuned...."

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 45 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Tomorrow: "In exchange for a pinky swear from congressional Republicans that a vote for moderate reforms would be held sometime in the next year, Democrats have given in to all Republican demands and passed the funding bill with no changes."

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 5 points 5 months ago

    And yet that is all it takes to grind this government to a halt - they ask for basically nothing at all and still, they are given no quarter. They should almost all be fired, the red hats should be just as mad at their idiot congresspeople for accomplishing nothing.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 2 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    "Look at those stupid idiots, trying"

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 65 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    I don't understand how requiring federal agents to show their face while working in an official capacity unless the situation requires to be covered for safety reasons is controversial. If they aren't doing anything illegal, why do they feel the need to cover up like robbers?

  • source
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 27 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Their demands are just have ice follow the same rules as police, which they already have to do. Which is extra ironic as it's not like it's done anything to help with how much the police abuse citizens

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 4 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    They're trying to save ICE for use during a Democratic administration. This is how Senate Democrats are calculating their politics. They're approaching this from the angle that the current admin is ruining ICE.

    Like, they fundamentally support Iran war and regime change, and only oppose that this guy is doing it so badly.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 56 points 5 months ago (7 children)

    Shut down airports .. what are we even talking about...shut it all down for the next 3 years...there is 0 room for negotiations until this administration is held to account and trials begin.

  • source
  • hideshow 7 child comments
  • [–] 30 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Seriously. As much as the shit stains in charge are fucking everything up, I’d gladly endure a total shutdown of society as a whole if that’s what it takes to cut this cancerous corruption out.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    I'm not making excuses for the dems complete lack of backbone, or their complicity in all the current horrors, but I do think this conversation should always acknowledge that many millions of (poor, undocumented, disabled) people would be utterly fucked during a total shutdown.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • load more comments (4 replies)
    [–] 42 points 5 months ago

    Don’t worry guys, Schumer has a proven ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, no chance this doesn’t end in some kind of capitulation that fails to get any concessions.

  • source
  • [–] 35 points 5 months ago

    Preemptive "fuck you, Chuck" for when he caves in.

  • source
  • [–] 33 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    Y'all remember 5 years ago when all these shitstains couldn't wear a mask to protect people from a plague? Suddenly they can breathe through them just fine.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 25 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    "Push for moderate reforms" where the complete removal of the ICE agency and build-up of a new replacement is needed.

    And they think this will go well with voters?

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 22 points 5 months ago (8 children)

    Democrats are fighting for no masks and that ICE actually has to have real warrants.

    In meetings with lawmakers, White House officials have demonstrated an openness to at least some of the concessions Democrats want. They've committed to expanding the use of body-worn cameras, reforming agent trainings and bolstering requirements for officers to identify themselves when conducting immigration enforcement. Pain points have remained, however, over masking and warrants.

  • source
  • hideshow 8 child comments
  • [–] 31 points 5 months ago (6 children)

    Which is fine and dandy but ignores the fact that ICE is a literal gestapo that needs to be wholesale dismantled not made marginally less bad.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • load more comments (4 replies)
  • load more comments (1 reply)
    [–] 20 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Have Republicans tried PROMISING to MAYBE think about SOME word like Reforms if they Pass the Bill with NO Changes? That USUALLY works Pretty well on Democrats!

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 19 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    If shmucker lets the save act pass. I swear to God...

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 18 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    I can't wait for them to end the shutdown with absolutely nothing to show for it again. Useless twats.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 16 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Everyone ready to get violent yet?

    Absolutely nothing will change until we do. So let's organize.

  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 14 points 5 months ago* (1 child)

    Just let the government die at this point, don't vote for any reforms other than abolishment entirely. CBP handled all of it just fine before ICE was even created to do the SAME FUCKING JOB.

    The US government needs to be replaced. Along with 99% of Congress. The experiment has failed. Time cut our losses and try again.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 3 points 5 months ago

    ICE wasn't created to do the same job. It was created because kicking out anyone who cares about rule of law or procedure from CBP would have taken much longer.

    ICE was made a fascist strangling arm from the get-go, that's why it is separate.

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 7 points 5 months ago

    DHS does nothing important and it should never be funded again.

  • source
  • [–] 5 points 5 months ago

    Waiting on Fettermann to fuck this up and Schumer to cave.

  • source
  • [–] 5 points 5 months ago

    We’re at the point that I’m not just certain they are controlled opposition, but I hope they are corrupt and complicit because if they were in fact just this incompetent I think it would cause me to lose somehow more hope in humanity

  • source
  • [–] 1 point 5 months ago

    This is the face of a failed democracy. Those little blue wins. Lol. It's the adjustment the ss needs. Your plans for the no kings picnic. That's a joke. You actually think that is going to stop this?? You really are giving project 2025 it's bloodless coup. Enjoy the fanfiction of 1984 and bridesmaids tail.

  • source
  • Full funding for every gop wants as long as they promise to smile while doing it.

  • source
  • [–] 1 point 5 months ago (1 child)

    Meanwhile, bOtH pArTiEs will continue to pretend that they need a "super majority" to pass legislation, even though they could change this parliamentary rule with a simple majority vote at any time.

    Why do they do this? Why do they call the solution the "nuclear option"? why do people fall for this bullshit?

    "Oh sorry, we couldn't pass minimum wage, we need a super majority for that! We are the labor party uwu."

    "Oops! We wanted to make big cuts, but have instead decided to increase spending because of those darn Democrats! Gosh darnit!!"

    Their full time job is playing golf, getting drunk, and fucking interns. Legislation is boring!

    "We are stressed, we need a summer recess after spring recess, right before we have winter break, oh look it's the holidays we need a vacation so tired."

    Best benefits in the world though, they are able to pass that somehow.

  • source
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 2 points 5 months ago

    Both parties refuse to remove the limit because once one of them does, the other has no excuse not to. The GOP knows that they can basically get whatever they want in budget reconciliation (the one bill a year that ignores the filibuster) and the Dems know that if they actually start passing laws people will expect them to improve their material conditions. So it remains a useful fiction for both of them.

  • source
  • parent
  • load more comments
    view more: next ›