WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a 220 to 207 vote, the House passed a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. The bill received a lot of scrutiny from Democrats as they tried to reign in funding for ICE.
During floor debate for the last remaining funding bills for a handful of Departments and Agencies, funding for DHS was the main point of division, specifically over ICE.
Democrats, who called for a separate vote on the DHS funding bill, saw this as an opportunity to reign in ICE following the recent ICE operations in Minneapolis. Tensions have increased after a woman was shot and killed by an ICE officer.
“ICE has operated with brutality, terrorizing our constituents, abducting our neighbors and violently assaulting lawful residents who have done nothing but had the misfortune of crossing ICE’s path on their way home from work,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D- CT), Ranking Member on House Appropriations Committee.
Rep. DeLauro said many of the Democrat’s proposals like preventing US citizens from being detained or deported or preventing non-ICE personnel from conducting interior enforcement, are not including in this bill. However, she added there are some provisions in the bill she is glad to see. DeLauro said the bill reduces funding for ICE by 115-million dollars, essentially keeping the Agency’s budget flat and reduces the number of detention beds.
“These are good provisions and I’m glad they’re in this bill but it’s clear more must be done,” said Rep. DeLauro.
ICE is not the only thing the DHS bill funds. The Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Tom Cole (R- OK), said the bill enhances border security, TSA and provides millions in community projects requested by House and Senate members. Part of that funding would go towards Erie, Pennsylvania’s Emergency Operations Command Center, which aims to help provide disaster relief response and operations.
“The right thing to do here is to fund the people that protect America, that defend our border, that helps us in time for disaster and yes who find criminals who come into the country who have illegally committed crimes and make sure they’re expelled,” said Rep. Cole. “That makes America safer, better and more secure.”
The Senate is now tasked with finalizing the remaining appropriations bills before the January 30 deadline to avert another government shutdown.
