Progressive Dems Call on Colleagues to Cut Funding to DHS

As Congress continues seeking some form of resolution regarding border security, a group of freshman progressive House members have called upon their colleagues to cut funding to the Department of Homeland Security.

Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn) are putting pressure on Democrats to oppose any spending deal that would increase funding for the DHS and, moreover, are calling for greater oversight regarding DHS abuses and an end to “slush funds” for detention programs. In a letter obtained by The Daily Beast, the freshman four state that agencies of the DHS have an agenda “driven by hate—not strategy,” and that immigration reform must be founded on “justice and data.”

“DHS must be held accountable, not rewarded, for its actions over the last two years, including family separations, barriers to asylum, and the deaths of two children in Border Patrol custody,” Pressley told The Daily Beast.

Democrats have maintained that they will not support a bill that grants funding towards the border wall. President Trump, meanwhile, has said that he will not sign a bill sans funding and has threatened to declare a national emergency to secure the funds if needed.

The letter is expected to be read on the House floor next week.