digitalagriculture
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https://prospect.org/2026/02/16/ice-cbp-defund-homeland-security-democrats-congress/
Feb 16, 2026 5:17 PM
digitalagriculture
6648
350
3
https://prospect.org/2026/02/16/ice-cbp-defund-homeland-security-democrats-congress/
hitshappens
"BUT WHAT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN NORTH KOREA, INDIA, AND PAKISTAN." Interesting how you name places absolutely noone wants to move to
MilledGrist
The mind struggles to comprehend $40 billion in new detention facilities, no doubt for the "domestics" and the "homegrowns" who dare to criticize.
Tmissfrizzle
David Dayen is a good read and listen
meganical
It shows how weak America is when none of its cities have even destroyed an ICE center
chata954
YES PLS THOS OS WHAT ALL OF HUMANITY WANTS, AND THOSE WHO DONE WANT IT ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO ASK FOR SHIT.
hyperchondriac
As the article points out, DHS already has 7 years worth of funding and the shutdown doesn't change that. Dems can let ICE and DHS rot, but should try to get FEMA and TSA funding split out so those agencies can reopen.
Skawomplious
I'd like to see the whole Patriot Act dismantled.
sleepinggreenidea
Butbutbut... how will they afford more training to ignore & bodycams to turn off if we don't give them whatever funding they ask for?!?!? Asking for a centrist Dem.
walnutbreath
Dems will cave and fully fund DHS without getting a single concession the second a natural disaster invariably strikes. Republicans know this. It's why they won't bother negotiating.
The cherry on the dogshit sundae is that the disaster will likely hit a red state. Dems will rush to bail them out from the consequences of Republican policies. When it's a blue state, Republicans are going to block relief.
CallMeMcGyver
Fuck ICE... ICE = DOMESTIC TERRORIST MILITIA
bekkayya
militias have rules and training and are part of the local community. These are fascist gangs. Worse than militia. Worse than terrorists.
Buffoonery
Y'all think they would try to privatize ICE?
509tigerfish
mksu
ICE is post-9/11 bullshit, like DHS. It doesn't need to exist. We got along fine for over 200 years without it.
GiantFlyingLabia
The continued existence of DHS is one of those things where you can give me the “both sides” argument and I’ll go “yeah, you have a point.”
judyblue
You can have homeland security without having Homeland Security. Nobody wants to sacrifice safety. But we already have the largest and most overfunded defense department in the world - we really don't need two.
4Astaroth
But who else shall burn your money. Think about the poor shareholders who hate Schools and good Healthcare.
HeywouldJablowme
Exactly. People don't realize it was Republicans taking advantage of an opportunity. They have wet dreams about turning America into a police state
SidonisAntares
Except ICE was created by taking the existing law enforcement arms of both the INS and the CBP into a singular agency. We’ve had immigration police since the 1930s, just wasn’t a single agency until post-9/11
bekkayya
so then one might say that ICE is post-9/11 bullshit, like DHS. It doesn't need to exist. We got along fine for over 200 years without it? And there is no except? Because you open your mouth and shit falls out?
bekkayya
appear to be blocked, fairly, so ill just say sorry here. I had my foot a bit too on the gas from a previous comment that was a bit too much
SidonisAntares
I don’t like leaving the implication that we had no immigration police prior to ICE, when we did. ICE is just one of many law enforcement agencies that have been unnecessarily paramilitarized post-9/11, and not just at the federal level. So stick your assumptions about me elsewhere.
mksu
Maybe it should go back to not being a single agency. While we're at it, Border Patrol's asses should be at the fucking border, not operating anywhere they please within 50 miles of it.
RainierCamino
Hear me out here Democrats. Push to dismantle those agencies and I dunno, charge all those agents with kidnapping, assault, murder, etc. *And then* when you need to make political compromises, settle on not funding those agencies.
mrthewhitee
They're about 4 years away from being able to do any of that. Take incremental wins where you can.
RainierCamino
No fuck that. Only reason dems are winning any elections right now is because of folks being pissed off with Trump and the GOP. They are not winning because they're taking any sort of principled stand. They're winning because they're the option that isn't open fascism. That is not a long term strategy, either for electoral victory or for beating fascism.
torquemada90
Exactly. Even if the dems had the power to do so, they won't because they are a bunch weak, spineless, p***s. They will never do what it takes to restore democracy
mrthewhitee
You are talking two seperate things. They do not have the power to do any of the things you are demanding they do.
That doesn't mean I'm suggesting they do not campagin on those things. But they need to take the wins they can get now to show they are willing to do those things IF they get elected.
But they cannot do what you are asking for, today.
bekkayya
actually they could. They could take what parts of the military they technically have authority over and illegally march them and every constituent who cares enough to follow up to the homes of every person doing this fascism and throw them in the ocean. Thats what they have the power to do. They dont WANT to do that. You dont WANT to do that, but stop selling me bullshit about who has what powers when unelected stormtroopers are in my city and the rule of law is suspended for pedophiles
mrthewhitee
They have authority over 0 parts of the military.
What you are demanding is a civil war and maybe that will be the inevitable outcome of all this. But don't pretend you are asking for anything less.
They have no power of except to extract some incremental changes within the system. They have no power to do what you are asking that would not be an open declaration of war against the federal government.