LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nevada’s congressional delegation remains divided over funding the Department of Homeland Security, with Democrats demanding ICE reforms following recent shootings and the state’s sole Republican congressman calling their position “reckless.”
Representative Susie Lee and other Democratic members say they will not vote to fund DHS until the agency makes changes to its tactics, even if it risks another government shutdown.
“We offered five different reforms, whether it was wearing identification, providing warrants, use of force training, not arresting and detaining U.S. citizens. And Republicans, every step of the way, rejected those reforms,” Lee said.
Republican pushes back on shutdown threat
Representative Mark Amodei, Nevada’s only Republican congressman, criticized his Democratic colleagues’ refusal to fund DHS without changes to ICE’s mission.
In a statement, he writes:
Despite his criticism of the Democratic position, Amodei also called for ICE to change its strategy in the wake of recent shootings.
“A pivot to ICE’s core mission in Minnesota is needed. Prioritizing the most dangerous criminal aliens and focusing enforcement on individuals who have gone through due process and have final orders of removal is the stated core mission,” the Congressman writes.
Democrats cite constitutional concerns
Lee said Democrats want guardrails in place before spending more money on the agency, citing incidents in Minneapolis.
“It’s time for the Department of Homeland Security to take some major reforms. And if they’re not going to, I’m not going to sit back and provide any additional resources until such steps are made.”
But Amodei believes the protestors do bear some blame.
“…there is another player in the room who has not been exemplary, and that is the local agitators and politicians who have encouraged the continued interference with immigration enforcement operations. They share equal responsibility for creating a warzone mentality on the ground,” the Congressman writes.
Congressional Democrats say they are willing to risk another government shutdown to preserve constitutional protections. Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen is among those calling for the impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
If the sides cannot reach an agreement by midnight Friday, thousands of government workers across different agencies will be impacted.
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