U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand hopes Republicans in Congress will help impose what she described as new “accountability measures” on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.
During a press conference held on Wednesday to discuss her opposition to President Donald Trump’s latest tariff plans for Canada, Gillibrand said she and fellow Democrats intend to push for the reforms as part of this week’s discussion over spending measures Congress must approve by Saturday to avoid a federal government shutdown.
Gilligrand said the measures Democrats are eyeing for approval include enhanced identification requirements for ICE officers, including mandates that they wear badges and identification that includes their names. She described what she described as a “masks off, cameras on” provision that would result in ICE officers no longer being permitted to cover their faces or undertake enforcement activities without body cameras in place. Another part of the reform package prohibit ICE activities in schools, churches and hospitals. Gillibrand said another aspect would address an internal ICE directive that suggested officers could enter private homes without judicial warrants.
“They have to respect the constitution, which they literally are not doing,” she said.
Gillibrand said Democrats are pushing for approval of the heightened ICE operational standards in the wake of recent shootings involving “American citizens” in Minnesota, a reference to Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, who were both killed in ICE-involved incidents this month.
She said the new measures are a necessary response to ICE tactics, which are causing harm to peaceful protestors and creating “enormous fear and chaos” in Minneapolis and other parts of the country.
“What’s happening in Minnesota is horrific,” Gillibrand said.
Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer announced this week a Democratic plan to demand changes to a Department of Homeland Security bill over ICE funding as part of ongoing talks over approval of a larger spending plan that would avert a government shutdown.
While Republicans in Congress have said that they prefer approval of a full spending package, they are open to the possibility of splitting off the DHS portion of the bill.
Gillibrand called Wednesday’s virtual press conference to decry Trump’s latest tariff plan, which he announced over the weekend. The president threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Canadian goods, a move Gillibrand argued would result in higher costs for New Yorkers. She said Trump’s proposal would impact prices paid by Americans for fertilizer, electricity, auto parts and other products, including barley used to make beer at breweries statewide.
“At a time when prices are already soaring, working families shouldn’t have to pay more for what they need,” she said.
Trump has also threatened to levy a 25% tariff on South Korean goods, which followed his vow earlier this month to hike tariffs on NATO countries by 10%.
Gillibrand noted that, last year, Trump levied tariffs on more than 90 countries, including a 35% tariff on certain Canadian goods.
She said those tariffs resulted in higher prices being paid by New York households.
“If the president follows through on his threats to impose further tariffs on Canadian goods, New York families will pay an even higher price, Upstate small businesses will suffer, and energy prices will skyrocket,” she said.