Bernie Sanders says Democrats are aiming to show 'ICE is out of control' with DHS shutdown

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen. Bernie Sanders addressed the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown during a media appearance, focusing on the role of Democrats in the standoff over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

His remarks highlighted the broader political dispute over immigration enforcement and funding, particularly Democratic concerns about ICE’s conduct.

Bernie Sanders highlights DHS shutdown strategy, criticizes ICE

During a broadcast of CNN’s 'The Source' on Tuesday, March 24, host Kaitlan Collins asked Sanders, “Another thing that your colleagues that you caucus with, Democrats, are working on with Republicans is ending the DHS shutdown. Do you believe that Democrats have achieved anything as a part of the DHS shutdown?”

Sanders responded, “Well, I think they try to make the point that ICE is out of control, and ICE is out of control, and it needs fundamental reforms.” Collins followed up, “And did they make that point, in your view?”

He further emphasized, “Well, you’ll have to judge that. I think they’re trying very hard.”

Sanders has been a vocal critic of the immigration agency and the Trump administration. Last month, during a speech in Congress, he sharply criticized ICE, stating, “So what ICE has become is not an agency of immigration and customs enforcement. What it has become is Trump's domestic army.”

He continued, “And I would hope that my conservative friends, people who year after year get up here and say we believe in small government, get the government off our backs, let local communities make their own decisions, finally stand up and say that in America we do not need a domestic army t*****ising communities throughout this country.”

Sanders also highlighted the scale of funding allocated to the agency, saying, “In the so-called big, beautiful bill, as many will recall, Congress appropriated $75 billion over a four-year period to go to ICE on top of their previously appropriated $10 billion in funding.”

He concluded by arguing for a shift in priorities, “So instead of funding a domestic army which breaks the Constitution every day, we should be putting that money to help the people of our country get the health care that they need.”

Bipartisan optimism grows to end DHS shutdown

Senators from both parties expressed growing optimism late Monday about reaching an agreement to end the five-week partial shutdown of the DHS, which has increasingly disrupted air travel across the United States.

Following a meeting between Republican senators and President Donald Trump at the White House, Katie Britt, a key negotiator, said she believed a solution to the impasse was within reach. Later on the Senate floor, she was seen speaking with members from both parties, including Sen. Chuck Schumer.

Schumer said “both sides are working seriously” as he left the Capitol, following a day of tense negotiations. Talks had been strained earlier when Trump pushed for Republicans to link passage of the SAVE America Act to funding for the DHS.

The president’s demand was immediately dismissed as unserious by Democrats and unrealistic by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who has repeatedly pointed out that the measure, which would require Americans to establish proof of citizenship to register to vote and to show identification when casting ballots, doesn’t have the votes needed to bypass a filibuster.

Lawmakers also told reporters that they had a sense of urgency to resolve the impasse, given that travelers continue to suffer through lengthy delays at major US airports waiting to go through security screenings.

Employees of the Transportation Security Administration, which the Homeland Security Department oversees, haven’t been paid for weeks, prompting some to call in sick.