The 4 things every Democratic senator running in 2020 wants to cut from homeland security's budget
Five 2020 Democrats have four united 2020 goals, and they have nothing to do with being president.
On Wednesday, presidential contender and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) sent a letter telling the Senate's homeland security and appropriations committees what she'd like to see deleted from the Department of Homeland Security's fiscal year 2020 budget. Her four demands aren't too shocking, but they did reveal that all the Senate Democrats running for president are united on at least one front.
Harris started the letter by rebuking how President Trump has led DHS, calling out his "reckless immigration enforcement and detention operations that are tearing families apart and harming the American economy." To reverse all this, she called on the committees to cut funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention beds by an unspecified amount. Harris would also like to see the committees reject Trump's request for funding to hire additional ICE agents. Next up, she asked the committee to bar any transfer of additional DHS funds to ICE beyond what it's eventually appropriated in the final budget. And finally, in keeping with last year's budget demand turned government shutdown, Harris doesn't want any funding for Trump's border wall.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) all signed on to Harris' letter, along with another 14 Democrats not running for president — yet. The coalition isn't enough to block a 2020 budget from passing in the Senate, but it does tell formally tell congressional leaders that a small group is ready to fight come budget negotiation time.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Long summer days in Iceland's highlands
The Week Recommends While many parts of this volcanic island are barren, there is a 'desolate beauty' to be found in every corner
By The Week UK Published
-
The Democrats: time for wholesale reform?
Talking Point In the 'wreckage' of the election, the party must decide how to rebuild
By The Week UK Published
-
5 deliciously funny cartoons about turkeys
Cartoons Artists take on pardons, executions, and more
By The Week US Published
-
British warship repels 'largest Houthi attack to date' in the Red Sea
Speed read Western allies warn of military response to Iranian-backed Yemeni rebels if attacks on ships continue
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Houthi rebels claim Red Sea ship attacks
speed read Iran-backed Yemeni group vows to escalate aggression towards Israel-linked vessels in revenge for Gaza war
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Israel plans next phase of Gaza war as first hostages released
Speed read After four-day ceasefire 'we will not stop' until destruction of Hamas, says Israel
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Mob storms Russian airport 'looking for Jews'
Speed Read Plane from Israel surrounded by rioters chanting antisemitic slogans after landing in Russia's Dagestan region
By The Week UK Published
-
Tuberville's military promotions block is upending lives, combat readiness, 3 military branch chiefs say
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Ukraine's counteroffensive is making incremental gains. Does it matter in the broader war?
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
US commissions first-ever Navy ship in a foreign port
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
British spy chief, Wagner video suggest Prigozhin is alive and freely 'floating around'
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published