Politics and views in the United States

Congress doesn't have a clear path forward to end the DHS funding fight. Hospitalized ICE detainees aren't being allowed to privately speak with family and attorneys and KY colleges worry about potential immigration enforcement. 

TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to 2026 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

We were all set to pass this bill, and then Democrats reneged on the agreement.

And so, here we are.

Circumstances changed, I understand that.

But some Democrats were already signaling they were prepared to walk away from the deal before the most recent events in Minneapolis.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is blaming Democrats for the shutdown of the Homeland Security Department. 

Thune says just before ICE officers killed two people in Minneapolis, a bipartisan deal had been worked out, including more body cameras, greater transparency on ICE spending, and de-escalation training for officers.

That budget deal also allocated millions more for immigration enforcement and for detention centers.

ICE's budget was tripled in last year's Republican budget mega-bill, meaning the current shutdown doesn't impact the agency, but it pauses funding for the Coast Guard, TSA, and FEMA.

Democrats are calling for limits on immigration officers.

Some Republicans argue ending the Minnesota operation should be enough, but it was during a Chicago sweep when agents shot Miramar Martinez five times and joked about it.

A federal judge just ruled DHS had lied to justify that shooting, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says the reforms have to be written into law to "halt ICE abuses."

Otherwise, what Tom Homan says today could be reversed by Donald Trump on a whim tomorrow.

Without legislation, Donald Trump could choose to put a rogue force in any city he wants and have them operate without guardrails at all.

Immigrant rights groups say Democrats' reforms to ICE to follow standard police rules aren't enough, calling for an end to cooperation agreements between DHS and local law enforcement.

And they're demanding investigations into migrant detention centers when more than 50 people have died since President Donald Trump returned to office.

They say ICE agents are sometimes preventing hospitalized detainees from speaking privately with attorneys or family members.

Attorneys shoeming "cheer" with the California Immigrant Policy Center, says lawyers and family members have to know enough to tell doctors about the patient's health conditions and medications.

The lack of visitation and lack of information adds to the heightened stress and it's really critical for people in that situation to have contact with their attorneys so they know what their rights are.

Though immigration violations are civil issues like lawsuits and building violations, migrants are regularly being put in regular criminal jails where correction officers control their access to all medical care.

Although the administration seems to be signaling a softening in its aggressive immigration policy, many states are fearful they could be the next Minnesota.

Data show Kentucky's community college system has more than 30,000 first and second generation migrant students along with 20,000 international students.

There haven't been any documented ice raids on state community college campuses, but Katie Varner with American Federation of Teachers There says school staff are bracing themselves.

Faculty in general feel under threat right now.

People are walking into classrooms, turning on their cell phones, recording what teachers say in the hopes that they can somehow get these folks fired.

I'm Edwin J. Viera for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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