On Capitol Hill, the political drama is unfolding as expected. It’s almost like watching a TV show, where someone forgot to write a good ending. Today, leaders from top immigration enforcement agencies are taking center stage for what promises to be a heated discussion on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The tick-tock of the funding deadline has both sides of the aisle scrambling to reach an agreement before the clock strikes midnight.
The Democrats, ever the champions of bureaucratic complexity, have drawn up a laundry list of ten demands to — as they put it — rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Among these demands are more targeted enforcement, asking immigration agents to show their IDs, and, somewhat puzzlingly, a call for no masks for officers. It’s almost like they don’t want people enforcing the law to blend in like superheroes. In response, Republicans have countered with proposals that were expectedly labeled as “incomplete and insufficient” — words that seem to have become the soundtrack of Capitol Hill negotiations.
Speak to any Republican, and they’ll tell you that the Democrats are playing hardball, putting the funding of vital services like the TSA and Secret Service on the chopping block. It’s a risky move, especially when at the mention of TSA, every frequent flyer pictures those TSA lines getting longer and the chaos more chaotic. The irony of it all is not lost on anyone paying attention — the party of law and order seems to be fighting tooth and nail just to fund the agencies that keep order, all while their opponents hold the purse strings.
While the funding debacle simmers, a bit of good news floats in for the Trump administration, who just scored a legal victory as a federal court sided with them to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from certain countries. It’s a reminder that justice — or at least the courts — still tilt in favor of policies that enforce the law as written. Some might say it’s about time the “temporary” in Temporary Protected Status was taken seriously.
As legislative showdowns go, there isn’t much to expect from Democrats besides a bit of grandstanding. Congressman Lance Gooden slyly noted that Democrats might prefer to focus on distractions rather than acknowledging any forward strides in immigration enforcement. And why wouldn’t they? A DOJ that actually follows through on promises to manage immigration like an organized country certainly isn’t their cup of tea. With DHS funding up in the air, and the Democrats leading with demands that sound more like wishes than practical solutions, one can only hope they don’t veer too far into another cliffhanger ending. That might excite viewers of scripted dramas, but it does little for Americans depending on functional government services.
