Sen. Britt Voices Frustration Over Stalled DHS Budget Negotiations

Alabama Junior Republican U.S. Senator Katie Britt is her party's leader in Department of Homeland Security budget negotiations. She is voicing frustrations with Democrats continuing to add demands while playing to the media as a Friday deadline looms.

"We've had outreach to Democrats working on having a conversation. It's been one week since we decided we were going to do a two-week CR (continuing resolution) yet we've had no communication from them." Britt told reporters Friday in an impromptu hallway interview. "Now they communicated with you (media) and they put out social media and hold press conferences but yet we've heard nothing."

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Democrats have become more emboldened in their demands for reform of DHS in the wake of growing public disapproval of ICE immigration operations in Minnesota and across the country. Democrat leaders have vowed to shut DHS down if Republicans don't give them what they want. Those demands include:

1. Body cameras for all ICE officers,
2. No masks for ICE officers,
3. Officers have to identify themselves,
4. No paramilitary uniforms and equipment,
5. Limits on operations near schools, churches and polling places.
6.  

   No entry to property without judicial warrants,

7. Cooperation with local authorities,
8. Basic standards for detention and use of force,
9. No racial profiling. and
10. Safeguards such as basic standards for detention facilities, access to attorneys and no limitations on congressional detention visits.

Britt points out there is more than ICE at stake with DHS funding. She says it is critical for FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, Secret Service, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, National Disaster and Emergency Management University, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, all of which are part of DHS, to continue operations.

Senators return to Washington today facing a sprint to strike a deal and avoid a shutdown. Any compromise must be reached quickly because the senate is scheduled to go on recess Thursday.