Imposing conditions on ICE after granting it funds will be entirely ineffective.

[thucythucy]

History tells us that the Trump administration has no problem disobeying the law, and with little or no consequence.

Here's my alternate proposal:

Demand a list of all the people currently employed by ICE, especially all those hired after January 20 2025. Make sure the list is in the hands of Democratic leadership BEFORE any money is appropriated. Make the handing over of such a list a prerequisite for any vote on funding. Do everything possible to verify this is a complete list--again, BEFORE any funding is approved.

Then cross reference the list with: convicted felons, convicted sex abusers, domestic violence perpetrators, January 6 criminals, and members of far right groups such as Proud Boys.

Make the results of such a cross reference public, and demand these people be immediately fired.

Trying to impose conditions after granting the funds is a fool's errand.

We should know by now that assuming this administration will obey the law, any law, is naive to the point of absurdity.

[Progressive dog]

1. So Trump won't obey defunding DHS

Might as well not do anything?

[thucythucy]

3. If the leadership wants to impose conditions to take effect AFTER granting the funds

by all means go ahead. I suppose it can't hurt, and my proposal doesn't exclude such a strategy.

BUT we should assume this administration will do what it always does: ignore the law, ignore Congress, ignore the courts.

My proposal is a way to force at least some needed changes.

You think this is a bad idea? Why>

[Progressive dog]

4. How do yuu make a law

to force Trump not to disobey the law?

[thucythucy]

5. You can't.

Which is why I made my proposal.

Any change in behavior you want to see at ICE must be done BEFORE and as a condition of funding. It's the ultimate power of the purse, and probably the only language Trump & Co. will understand. First the list, then whatever funds, with whatever requirements the leadership wants to pass.

Again, you think this is a bad idea?

[Progressive dog]

7. So Trump will keep an agreement 9f it contains more stuff?

He will not spend money that Congress hasn't appropriated? He will spend the money that Congress has appropriated? How did he fund DOGE, how did he fund the ballroom?
The bad idea was electing Trump and his Congress. For now, we have to settle for what we can get.

[thucythucy]

10. I'm having trouble understanding your argument.

You started by responding to my suggestion with "So, might as well do nothing?" as if that's what I was saying.

My response was to say, essentially, the leadership can impose any conditions it wants to impose, but here's something that we can try to actually get needed results. Something to do in addition to the agenda already proposed.

Now you seem to be saying, since Trump will do whatever he wants anyway, maybe we shouldn't do anything at all? Just settle for what we can get, which you seem to suggest will be: nothing?

So what would be your plan, aside from building a time machine to undo the 2024 election? Or maybe just wait until the next election and hope Trump and the GOP will suddenly respect results they don't like?

ICE is a clear and present danger to our democracy, such as it is. Your plan for the leadership to deal with this would be: what?

[Progressive dog]

11. You might as well do

nothing was a statement from me comparing your plan to doing nothing. Simply put, in my opinion doing nothing would accomplish as much and probably more than not passing additional funding for ICE.
The Democratic leadership controls no branches of government. I believe their plan is about the best outcome we can expect.

[dickthegrouch]

12. Forget to add the words "in his role as president"

Make him personally responsible for any damages awarded.
Make sure those damages are commensurate with the $10Bn he's seeking from the BBC about supposedly lying about him. (He set the precedent).
Give him and any enabler pause.

[leftstreet]

2. Schumer and Jeffries, are you listening to this?

A brilliant idea!

DURec

[Johonny]

6. Over funding ICE is moronic

[leftstreet]

8. +1

[LuvLoogie]

9. This leadership is trying to secure an empty barn.

Last edited Thu Feb 5, 2026, 02:30 PM - Edit history (1)

It's too late. Back to your regularly scheduled 4 hour lunches.