Chuck Schumer: Democrats want commonsense reform for ICE:

[demmiblue]

Democrats want commonsense reform for ICE:

End the roving patrols and racial profiling.

Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.

Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.

Democrats want commonsense reform for ICE:

End the roving patrols and racial profiling.

Take accountability and abide by the same rules as local police.

Masks need to come off, body cameras need to stay on—no secret police in the United States of America.

— Chuck Schumer (@schumer.senate.gov) 2026-02-03T21:19:27.293Z

— Doremus Jessup (@djessup.bsky.social) 2026-02-03T23:30:24.099Z

[JT45242]

1. Drive more twenty somethings away from the party chuckles

This will be another thing that my sons (19&24) will echo from the interwebs that there is no real difference between two parties.

We must be stronger...must state all crimes committed must be prosecuted. Not take accountability..they must FACE JUSTICE!

[Ars Longa]

105. Why is he still in Leadership? Why is it so hard to replace bad leadership?

He can still be a Senator--just NOT in leadership!

[LuvLoogie]

2. Yes common sense reforms for the slave patrol gestapo racist militia

Fuckin hell. We are in such a hole.

[Swede]

3. Yeah, make them less Nazish?

FFS

[yellow dahlia]

76. Maybe we could dress them in pink tutus,

they would be less intimidating.


do I even need it?

[Johnny2X2X]

4. "abide by the same rules as local police."

That's kind of off too. ICE has nowhere near as much legal authority as local police do. ICE has an extremely limited scope of legal authority, they cannot enforce any part of the law save for immigration warrants signed by a judge. They have no legal basis for traffic stops or barking orders at anyone driving a car, they don't even have anymore legal authority than you or I do to direct traffic. They have no legal mandate to interact with protesters save for the rare instances protesters are preventing them from executing a warrant.

This is what's totally crazy, ICE are not trained in any area of the law save for immigration warrant serving. They don't have the power to do any of these things to protesters or bystanders that we are seeing. They do not have the same rules as local police, they have the same rules as local citizens.

[MichMan]

49. Are you sure about that?

"They have no legal mandate to interact with protesters save for the rare instances protesters are preventing them from executing a warrant."

If someone spits or throws a brick at them, they aren't permitted to do anything about it other than duck?

[SheltieLover]

5. No, Chuck. We want ICE & ALL OF DHS ABOLISHED!

That would be "common sense," but somehow I don't think that's what Chuck means.

[cally]

28. Exactly

Abolish ICE

[SheltieLover]

56. And DHS, Dubya's post-911 nightmare creation.

[bdamomma]

37. They are

Using our money for these thugs to terrorize our citizens. Chuck kindly step aside

[yellow dahlia]

77. Hear! Hear!

[republianmushroom]

48. AGREE !

[Autumn]

7. This Democrat want's ICE fucking abolished. Maybe Chuck should push for something that

will actually do something that will improve the life of everyday Americans. Not the billionaires and corporations. Do something for the AMERICAN people. Pretend we are your favorite country.

Aj fuck it. The sooner Chuck goes the better we will be.

[SocialDemocrat61]

8. It's a good start

but let's not make the perfect the enemy of the good. That only helps republican.

[Scrivener7]

11. WTF

[SocialDemocrat61]

18. This 😎

[littlemissmartypants]

40. Ivory Tower thinking is what got us into this mess.

It's that place of privileged seclusion or separation from the practical realities of the real world. It’s often used to describe people, especially academics or scholars, who are deeply engrossed in their own pursuits and seem oblivious to outside concerns.

If you are unsure your company [your government or you]may be struggling with “Ivory Tower Thinking”, here are some signs.

●Designs systems without formally including or prioritizing the front-line experience
●Uses lots of “business speak” in your communications or uses office-centric language
●Schedules townhall or leadership updates from 8 – 5pm with no on-demand options
●Thinks there can always be joy and pride in doing menial, hard or dangerous labor
●Lacks a communications or technology strategy for your front-line
●Assumes motivation tactics or performance management is the same for your front-line
●Has the same benefit and development programs for all front-line and office employees
●Struggles making a distinction between jobs and careers
●Does not account for rotational, shift, or after-hour schedules when collecting feedback
●Is still trying to solve front-line low participation rates in after-hour activities

https://twistymind.com/2025/05/06/signs-symptoms-ivory-tower-thinking/

[Scrivener7]

54. My objection to the quote came from the fact that it is usually used to say, "Accept less." In most

political situations, "Don't let perfection be the enemy of the good" is sensible. But Chuck has asked for the bare minimum here, and the situation is dire so, no, we should not be accepting less.

We should be demanding much more.

For example, there is nothing there about excluding ICE agents with criminal histories, histories of domestic abuse, or agents who can't read at an 8th grade level (which, according to Pro Publica, is most of them.)

AND we have the sentiment of the electorate behind us to do so.

[yellow dahlia]

82. Trying to play nice is Chuck's default mode. And you are correct -

accepting less should not be traded for nowhere near enough.

[mr715]

92. "Playing nice"

I get it, but he has very little charisma. He just comes off as morally compromised.

[yellow dahlia]

99. No charisma. And indeed compromised.

[SocialDemocrat61]

61. Exactly

Ted Kennedy use to say better to get half a loaf than no loaf at all. Too many want all or nothing. But those kinds of purity tests only help Republicans in the end.

[beaglelover]

101. Yeah, we saw how well defund the police worked for our side. Abolish ICE is another stinker slogan.

[mr715]

117. I completely disagree.

(FYI I love beagles too.)

Public opinion polling seems to suggest that ICE does not have broad support. You know, because of the cold blooded murders. Other scandals too, like an ICE dude getting a DUI with his kids, the whole platoon being illiterate and unable to do pushups...

Defund the police does not equal abolish ICE.

And it need not be a slogan. Call it "justice for our communities".

Or call it what it is -- no state sec murders.

[Iggo]

126. Yeah but also don't let the good be the enemy of the better.

It doesn’t have to be perfect to be better than ICE.

[SocialDemocrat61]

127. Very true

But it's not where you start, it's where you finish.

[yellow dahlia]

80. How many WTF's can we use in a day?

[LearnedHand]

73. So, if they contain themselves to teargas and beatings

instead of murder, is that an example of not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good? There is NO REFORMING this roving band of thugs. There is only abolishing the deeply deeply broken organization and starting from scratch.

[SocialDemocrat61]

78. Nice strawman argument

but until democrats control every branch of government we should be happy with the concessions we can get. Beating our cheats with self righteous anger accomplishes nothing.

[durablend]

88. Cool, so heads cracked open better than death. Win win!

[SocialDemocrat61]

89. Another great straw man

But remember every journey has to begin with a single step. And purity tests only benefit republicans.

[yellow dahlia]

83. Exactly.

[Bettie]

119. You know what else helps Republicans?

When our side starts negotiations with the very least that is acceptable and then gives it all away calling it negotiation.

Remember the shutdown that they ended with total capitulation? Oh, wait, they got the promise of a vote on the subsidies....a vote that everyone knew would fail, but they got their vote. Was that a "win"? It sure doesn't feel like it.

[SocialDemocrat61]

120. Every journey begins

with a single step.

[Bettie]

122. All too often it feels like that single step

is backward.

[SocialDemocrat61]

123. Then maybe we should work

harder to elect more democrats.

[BluenFLA]

9. Hey Chuckles

I think we can all agree we're passed the point of reforming ICE. The only solution is disbanding it completely, but you and your fellow corporate Dems would never consider that.

[gab13by13]

13. That's the wrong approach,

DHS funding expires on February 13th. All that Schumer and Jeffries have to do is write down a list of demands for DHS to follow and then state that every demand must be met before DHS gets any money. I made a partial list earlier.

You just can't say we don't want border patrol or ICE, Democrats will get pummeled in the MSM. Democrats must be smart about how they go about defunding these goons.

[Autumn]

15. I'm good with border patrol for the most part. Fuck ICE and fuck reforming that bullshit Gestapo.

[gab13by13]

19. Krasnov, well Miller,

is using the border patrol as ICE,

Schumer/Jeffries have to make serious/strong demands that are not negotiable. If those demands are not met, which they won't be, then Democrats will have a strong argument not to fund DHS.

My fear is that Schumer will negotiate a meaningless weak sauce deal leaving Democrats divided.

[Autumn]

20. Border patrol existed long before Trumps ICE.

Yeah. That fear will become a reality if Chuck and Jefferies get their way.

[yellow dahlia]

84. But he will negotiate it with a stern tone.

[Scrivener7]

17. Ice really needs to go, though. We don't have to state that we're doing it, but we can take a

page from republicans and deny, deny, deny that we're doing it while we do it.

It needs to go. Or at least have every aspect of it "reformed." As in, all the leadership is gone, all the new recruits are gone, laws instituted to keep them in line or go to jail, the numbers decimated.

[gab13by13]

22. Yes exactly,

we must be smart how we do it.

Make tough demands that are reasonable.

If Democrats demanded that local and state police must be allowed to investigate ICE killings/shootings alongside the FBI or HSI or whoever, and be privy to all of the evidence, that is just following the law, it is not an unreasonable demand, but I do not believe that President Miller will agree to this so then Democrats have a damn good excuse to vote against funding on Feb. 13th.

[yellow dahlia]

86. THIS!

[orangecrush]

52. Fuck the MSM and ICE

[bdamomma]

38. Vichy

Dems

[617Blue]

10. Schumer BeClowns himself everyday.

[gab13by13]

12. You need to be more specific Chuck,

No DHS funding unless;

1. The Good/Pretti killings are allowed to be investigated by local and state police. All evidence that was gathered by the Feds must be turned over to the local and state police. All of the other ICE shootings and any future shootings/killings need to be allowed to be investigated locally.

2. No masks, no uniforms that don't identify the organization, a uniform that only says POLICE is not permitted.

3. Access to concentration camps must be allowed for local and state elected politicians, lawyers for the detainees, clergy, members of the MSM.

4. Gestapo goons must have a court approved warrant before barging into private residences.

These are only a starting point Chuck, get Democratic Senators from a committee and get a white board, sit down and brainstorm your demands. When you are finished count votes, just like Nancy Pelosi did, and you need every Senator to be on board.

Call a press conference and state your demands and then state that unless these demands are met no Democratic Senator is going to vote for DHS funding.

Hakeem Jeffries should do the same in the House.

Those are not unreasonable demands, people are being murdered and shot by the Gestapo, these vigilantes must follow the law or they get no funding.

[Martin Eden]

14. The only effective means to reform ICE is to replace its management

From Trump on down to everyone he appointed. This administration can't be trusted to do the right thing.

Enforcing immigration and customs laws is a legitimate function of government, whatever it may be called or under which agency it falls. The sprawling Dept of Homeland Security was an overreaction to 9/11 that was more conducive to implementing a surveillance police state threatening the rights of citizens, than protecting us.

There has to be a better way for collaboration between necessary investigative and enforcement agencies. There really are foreign adversaries and criminal organizations which pose a real threat. It would be a mistake to eliminate all government functions that deal with such threats.

But, right now, with ICE doing the bidding of a fascist regime that is a greater threat to our Constitutional democracy than any foreign adversary, the American people would be safer if ICE was abolished altogether than expect it to be properly reformed while it in the hands of this fascist regime.

So much damage done by this maladministration will have to be rebuilt, but it appears DHS needs to be deconstructed and thoroughly reevaluated with its functions less prone to politicization and abuse by authority.

[gab13by13]

24. not going to happen

We need to do something now. DHS funding expires on Feb. 13th, if Krasnov/Miller don't agree to Democrats demands then ICE is defunded.

[LudwigPastorius]

90. There really doesn't exist any leverage to defund ICE.

$75 billion has already been appropriated for ICE through 2029. That is above and beyond any additional funding for the DHS.

Congress is threatening a government shutdown over border security policy. But the agency at the center of the dispute is largely insulated from one. That is by design.

Last summer, Congress used budget reconciliation to lock in years of record funding for immigration and border enforcement. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act provided roughly $170 billion for immigration and border activities, including $75 billion for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency alone. To put that into perspective, the fiscal year 2024 ICE budget was less than $10 billion, and the entire Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget was a little over $60 billion. The OBBBA money is available through 2029 and sits largely outside the annual appropriations process. Whatever happens this week, border enforcement operations could continue largely uninterrupted.

https://www.taxpayer.net/budget-appropriations-tax/appropriations-bills-on-ice

[Kid Berwyn]

16. Missing the target.

For, ah…history!

[Ping Tung]

21. Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called "Common Sense".

“To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture.” Thomas Paine

[Cheezoholic]

33. This. I think we need to reprint Common Sense and give it away as a free gift for the 250th. ! n/t

[yellow dahlia]

87. THIS!

[orangecrush]

60. THIS

[yellow dahlia]

103. Thomas Paine is one of my favorite purveyor of words.

[JHB]

23. "Sure, Senator, you can order milk and toast, but are you sure nothing else interests you?"

"Our Blue Plate Special is a real banger... if you just try it."

[EarlG]

25. To the "Abolish ICE" folks, here's the problem

Calling for the abolition of ICE at this point seems like an obvious no-brainer. Most Americans had never given ICE much thought until recently, when it essentially turned into Trump's paramilitary secret police force. As of right now, most people associate ICE with images like this:



But here's an image of ICE officers taken during a time when most Americans barely gave a second thought to ICE. The image below is from 2016 -- the officers are unmasked, and they're not wearing body armor, or carrying assault rifles. During this time, ICE did not have policies that involved conducting warrantless door-to-door, dragging people out of their cars at random, firing tear gas into crowds of peaceful protestors, creeping around schools looking for kids to abduct, or murdering US citizens in the streets.



The problem with abolishing ICE is that immigration and customs enforcement is actually a necessary thing. There really are people people in the country who need to be deported, and there needs to be some kind of organization that can do that.

So when it comes to abolishing ICE, are you talking about abolishing ICE, or are you talking about abolishing immigration and customs enforcement? Because it would be very easy to conflate the two, and I hate to say this, but there are a lot of Americans out there who still have a boner for kicking out immigrants -- they just don't like the gross, violent, unconstitutional way that it's currently being carried out.

I am 100% in agreement with anyone who thinks that the current iteration of ICE needs to be abolished. We do not need a Gestapo or a Stasi in this country. And that distinction needs to be made clear. In that regard, the concept of "reform" is not necessarily a bad thing. What Schumer is proposing here is that ICE essentially return to what it was pre-Trump -- an organization bound by Constitutional rules and regulations, that has a specific and narrow mission to carry out.

But I do understand how, given the national anger about the current iteration of ICE, that use of the phrases like "commonsense reform" also comes across as milquetoast and out of touch, especially when used by Chuck Schumer, who, to put it gently, is not exactly a fire-breathing politician.

Bottom line: this is a real political minefield that the Democrats need to navigate. Americans are currently DISGUSTED by the policies of Trump's ICE, and that is a very real, and very significant political problem for the Republicans. But we don't want to let them twist themselves free of the briar patch they're caught in. I'm not saying Chuck Schumer's approach is correct here, but I am saying that Democrats really do need to be mindful of giving the impression that they don't care about legitimate immigration enforcement.

Just some food for thought.

[leftstreet]

26. +1 But Schumer shouldn't be the one making this case

Of course it's a political minefield. But as politicians they should know this message needs to come from someone with a better 'favorability' rating.

[EarlG]

27. I don't disagree with that

As Senate Minority Leader, Schumer obviously has an important role to play when it comes to passing legislation to curb ICE -- or making deals to force changes to ICE's current policies -- so it's not like he isn't going to be out there talking about this.

But when he does talk about it, he needs to be mindful that he is in fact a politician, and not just a bureaucrat. The mistake Schumer -- and other Democratic leaders, to be fair -- often make, is that they don't seem to be capable of fully channeling the anger that Americans are feeling about certain issues at any given time. "Commonsense reforms" might be something that actually makes sense in this case -- but the use of the phrase sounds like the kind of classic lazy politician-speak that voters have long learned to associate with "do nothing."

ICE absolutely needs to be brought to heel and restored as a serious organization which follows the Constitution and isn't involved in the violent oppression of the public. In my mind -- along with all the necessary reforms that are needed -- that would likely involve a rebranding so it's no longer known as ICE. In essence, that would essentially abolish ICE without abolishing immigration and customs enforcement -- so in that regard, maybe "Abolish ICE" would be more palatable if it borrowed that old Republican framing of "Repeal and replace ICE."

At least that would be an upgrade from "commonsense reforms." Messaging is key here -- as ever -- and I agree that Chuck Schumer probably shouldn't be leading the charge in that department, since he's demonstrated repeatedly that he's not very good at it.

[bdamomma]

43. Thank you EarlG

Repeal and replace ICE yes use the GOP words on them!!!

[yellow dahlia]

106. "Repeal and replace ICE" - excellent.

Agreed on all fronts.

Chuck Schumer relies on empty platitudes.

The "solutions" and the messaging would sound completely different coming from someone like Chris Murphy.

[gab13by13]

34. Bingo,

hey Chuck, take Chris Murphy in with you to negotiate.

[yellow dahlia]

107. I hadn't read your comment yet, gab...

but I just offered confidence in Chris Murphy, as well.

I often say, he knows how to message...and it is not just political platitudes. He knows what he is talking about.

[littlemissmartypants]

44. I want them to abolish their Ivory Tower approach.

Kids, literally, are in the streets trying to stop the insanity RISKING THEIR LIVES.

Leadership doesn't seem to have time to actually visit the scene.

They're too busy writing books and attending functions, apparently.

[Jilly_in_VA]

47. That could be a picture

of the ICE raid on a meat packing plant in Grainger County, TN, that devastated the community of Morristown, TN, where I lived for 30 years. People, 400 of them, many of them citizens or in the asylum process, were arrested without any chance to prove their status. Their children were left to fend for themselves. The community , led by the two churches with the biggest Hispanic congregations, jumped into action to care for the families of these people. It was a real wake-up call. To this day, nobody in the community likes or trusts ICE---and that's a pretty deep red community!

[Ol Janx Spirit]

50. Exactly--and well said. Look how well "defund the police" went from a political standpoint.

If you want to continue to attract the voters you will need to win elections in places that really matter--not just existing bastions of Democratic rule--then you can't be the "defund law enforcement" party. We cannot be a nation of laws without law enforcement--it's that simple. It only gives credence to a lot of voters that there is a "radical left" that does not have their best interests at heart--and the vast majority of them see law enforcement as the thing that keeps them safe on a daily basis.

How Schumer and Jeffries and other Democratic politicians talk about it matters a lot however.

Schumer and Jeffries may be very skilled that the machinations of politics, but they are not inspiring. And, "commonsense reform" is never inspiring either--even though it is most often what is needed.

Democrats have to offer an alternative vision of how ICE can function that appeals to more voters. They also have to show that they are serious about solving the problems ICE is there to solve.

[orangecrush]

57. Sorry, don't need this.

[yellow dahlia]

108. Yes.

[orangecrush]

63. I guess I'm not seeing the whole puncture

Er, picture.

When I see an autistic disabled woman testify that she was stopped on the way to treatment, had her car window smashed, was beaten, tortured and denied medical treatment, not read her rights, not given a phone call or access to a lawyer, and taken to an ER as an assault victim, what I want is unambiguous.

I want to see these criminals identified, stripped of their authority and weapons, and answer before a court of law for their actions.

[EarlG]

110. I'm with you on that

ICE agents who commit crimes need to be held fully accountable. “I was just following orders” is not an excuse.

[orangecrush]

115. Incremental change

May be the best we can hope for within the present framework.

I agree it's important and it's a lot better than giving up and doing nothing.

On the other hand, I also believe when the camel's back breaks, there won't be enough money in the world to stop us.

[yellow dahlia]

104. Thanks for the cogent thoughts for thought.

Schumer's method of messaging is a big part of the problem.

As I say often - he is not the leader to meet the challenges of these times.

[usonian]

29. "They'll behave if we treat them nice" ... Neville Chamberlain.

Abolish ICE and replace with NICE unarmed process servers.

[surfered]

30. Just like Barney Fife ....no masks, no bullets!

[kysrsoze]

31. Could he possibly sound any more milquetoast? How about "ICE as out of control and needs shutdown or massive overhaul."

I don't understand why so many Dems, particularly Schumer, need to pussyfoot around everything on the off-chance that they might offend someone. Call it the violent, illegal trainwreck that it is, and call for complete reform or dismantling.

[yellow dahlia]

109. Call it what it is - yes.

[Cheezoholic]

32. Talk about wishy washy lol n/t

[flvegan]

35. At least the powder is still dry.

So very dry.

[orangecrush]

55. Like talcum powder

[patphil]

36. Just as important, get rid of all the military crap they wear.

They don't look like law enforcement officers, they look like combat troops, ready to go out on patrol in Iraq or Afghanistan. Are our streets really that unsafe? I didn't notice that we were so unsafe...probably because we aren't.
Also, they need a lot more vetting, training, supervision, accountability, and things like personal ID badges that are visible to everyone.
Their detention facilities need to be inspected on a regular basis, with requirements as to the food, sanitation, and housing for the detainees. Plus, the people they detain must be kept in the city where they were seized to allow for family and legal council to have access.
And, no more bounties for arrests.
There's so much wrong with ICE, I simply can't easily document all their shortcomings. Not to mention the actual violence and casual disregard for the needs of the people they take off the streets.
I doubt the Democrats will be able to get all this added to the bill, but that's what's needed to make ICE even come close to meeting a minimum standard of professionalism.

Of course, they need to fire a lot of their agents, and start hiring people who are capable of acting as if they're professional law enforcement agents. And, that we know runs contrary to the plan for ICE.

And finally, NOT A DOLLAR MORE FOR ICE. They already have far more money than they need.

[bdamomma]

45. Gather the

JAN 6TH insurrectionists and put them in detention!!!!

[yellow dahlia]

111. Good start on a list.

And let's add - no more citizen surveillance.

[AverageOldGuy]

39. Memo to Schumer:

Do us a favor and resign.

[yellow dahlia]

112. You need to write it more sternly.

[Crowman2009]

41. DHS & ICE were created solely to sweep W's massive f*** up known as 9/11 under the rug.

It's time we start correcting the errors of our history created by the god damn GOP. Next up would be reducing this bloated defense budget.

[Jilly_in_VA]

42. Someone in DHS

I forget whether it was ICE Barbie or Tricia Wormtongue, said that if ICE were forced to unmask, "80% of them would resign on the spot."

Why's that, honey? Is it because that 80% are proud li'l bois, oaf kreepers, rogue cops who have been thrown off multiple forces, and Jan 6ers cosplaying? Is that it, sweetheart? Is that why you're afraid to have them show their facces or wear name badges, darlin'? Well, here's the deal. Even bad cops show their faces and wear name badges. Your guys aren't even that good. They're trash.

[mr715]

46. Exactly.

If you are an arm of executive power, you do not get to hide your face from those you would apply force on.

[orangecrush]

65. +1

[yellow dahlia]

113. I'm with you, J in VA.

[orangecrush]

51. You can't "fix" the gestapo, Chuck

This is why they laugh at us.

[mr715]

72. You fix it by burning it down and salting the earth.

I get it, politics and whatnot.

I'm sick of the word "reform".

[MichMan]

53. Would abolishing ICE mean an end to all deportations?

[Scrivener7]

58. No. We have had deportations since our country began. ICE is 20 years old.

[MichMan]

64. Wasn't sure how it was done before ICE

If someone is being deported after their asylum was denied, who takes them into custody, if they don't self deport?

[mr715]

71. Historically a lot of agencies have been invested with these powers

Interestingly, my cursory reading in response to your post says in the early days of the US, it was on the Treasury Dept's docket.

Now, it could very easily fall into the hands of FBI. It could reasonably be an apparatus formed within the Department of State, since it concerns foreign states and official documentation (a vestigial role of State was to handle all official correspondence between states and the Feds, and from Feds to other nations). I could see them opening an office of citizenship.

ICE is a former President W Bush project from the PATRIOT act, with other brilliant ideas like DNI, Homeland Security, and a widespread surveillance state.

[Crowman2009]

96. I do, it was called the INS.

At least until Dubya butchered it into the agency now known as ICE.

[mr715]

59. Democrats need common sense leadership

If our negotiating position is "reform" we're already dead in the water.

[Scrivener7]

62. I think we can SAY our position is reform, but I hope our leaders know we want that reform to

include the trashing of the entire leadership structure, the firing of anyone with a criminal record, a record of domestic abuse, a complaint of violence against a protestor, or a reading level below the 8th grade. And it needs to include an enormous claw-back of DHS funding, and an end to the concentration camps. It also needs to include prosecution for agents who illegally kidnapped people, entered homes, retaliated against speech that didn't include violence, and laid a hand on anyone other than a person who was undocumented and had a provable history of violent crime. And prosecution of anyone who told agents they had immunity to do those things.

If THAT is what reform will include, I'm all for it. But, true confession, my bumper sticker and the pin I wear both say "abolish ICE."

[MichMan]

67. Someone with a pot conviction 30 years ago that is now working for the federal government should be fired?

Seems pretty harsh.

[Scrivener7]

68. As always, your response says a lot.

[MichMan]

69. You said " the firing of anyone with a criminal record"

Is that not what you meant?

[Scrivener7]

79. Have a lovely day, dear.

[mr715]

70. Yeah, reforms can cut to the bone.

I question the framing of it.

Reform is a wonky and stentorian term that cedes ethical absolutes.

We don't talk in terms of "government sanctioned murder reform".

So, though I know it isn't happening, I'd have preferred Sen. Schumer not frame this as reforms of policy, but as a moral and ethical red line that cannot ever again be crossed.

I, like you, are in the abolish ICE camp. And you are quite correct that abolishing ICE can look like some very deep cutting reforms. At the end of the day, though, the outcome is quality control.

If I were in Schumer's shoes, I'd not talk about reform. I'd talk about stopping murder.

Also, I'd be willing to use my position to control the news cycle - i.e. resign in protest from leadership and/or the Senate to stand with the citizens of Minneapolis. I realize there are diminishing returns on that one, but I am so tired of Sen. Schumer's reflexive need to be at the center of a conversation while saying absolutely nothing.

[yellow dahlia]

121. "need to be at the center of a conversation while saying absolutely nothing"

Spot on!

Don't get between Schumer and a microphone or the front row of an event.

In February when the administration regime started taking over federal buildings and agencies, Chuck was holding Maxine Waters arm in the air and chanting "We will win!". Win what, Chuck? This an authoritarian take over and violations of Separation of Powers. And Chuck was acting like he was at a pep rally.

Give the microphone to someone else, Chuck!

[OC375]

66. Effective

Let ICE get out of hand, then tie immigration and sanctuary policies to ICE reform. Seems to be the zeitgeist anyhow. Be interesting to see where it all goes, or doesn't.

[Volaris]

74. No Chuck, we want you to pour salt on it. We WANT it destroyed.

We will SETTLE for your 'compromises' and then primary every damn one of you.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

75. Chuck Schumer is not the problem

Piggy and the corrupt criminal MAGAts are the fucking problem!!!

I very much doubt a post on Bluesky will force MAGAts to follow the law, or become decent human beings.

Did that so very clever meme change anything? Or just rile up Dems and provide the daily/hourly Schumer-hate fix.

[Autumn]

85. I don't hate Schumer. Like the board on my deck that needs to be replaced because it no longer fits

properly, I want Chuck replaced. I don't hate that board. It just doesn't fit, the gap is too large.

[mr715]

91. This is exactly, exactly the way to approach this.

Our relationships with politicians are policy oriented and transactional. The virtue of being in a leadership position does not innocculate one from criticism and, in fact, should require a higher moral standard.

Sen. Schumer has been in the Senate for a long time, and is an excellent fundraiser. He is responsible for a number of members getting elected to the Senate, but those days are behind him.

The world changed, and Schumer did not. Worse, he seems to be somewhat blind to the fact that he is out of step with his party.

He was the junior partner with Speaker Emerita Pelosi - it was quite apparent during any of their joint conferences. He is, at least to my tastes, too passive and too willing to negotiate on issues of moral clarity.

[W_HAMILTON]

93. "By whom?" Bernie Sanders responded to that same question when it was asked to him.

Do you have an answer?

[mr715]

94. Senator Murphy seems to want the gig.

[Scrivener7]

97. You keep asking this. I'd concur that Murphy would be my choice, but there are a number who would do well.

Why do you keep asking?

[betsuni]

95. "Abolish Schumer" anger-fests seem very addicting. Need that fix!

[MorbidButterflyTat]

114. Maybe Marjorie Taylor Greene could replace Chuck!

She's been generating more Dem support lately than Chuck Schumer.

All it took was a couple of anti-MAGAt comments and suddenly her harassment of David Hogg, her displaying giant posters of Hunter Biden's genitalia for the world to see, her howler monkey antics, her anti-trans comments and about a billion other things have magically disappeared from memory!

Meanwhile Democrats must do everything demanded of them on social media or else.

[mr715]

116. Who here is supporting Greene?

Can you identify someone, or is this a baseless claim to lazily brush all dissent within the democratic party as supporting republicans?

[lostincalifornia]

81. He is right on this. Just like those who thought defund the police was a winning issue, it isn't.

[Jedi Guy]

98. The reality is that there will have to be some arm of the federal government that enforces immigration law.

I think Schumer fails to realize that ICE is now so tarnished that it's beyond salvaging. ICE has existed under previous administrations without the over the top heavy-handed enforcement actions and policies. But under Trump it's simply gone too far to be saved. The rot is too deep and there's no pruning this tree. The only thing to do now is uproot it and plant a new tree.

I think he's being careful to avoid the phrase "abolish ICE" because it will play into Trump's narrative that Democrats are soft on immigration and envision no enforcement of immigration law.

Where he's failing on messaging is that it's possible to say what I just said. Tell the American people that ICE is too damaged to fix and a new enforcement arm needs to be created, one that's predicated on the crazy notion that immigrants are people with rights and should be treated with decency and compassion.

Mealymouthed calls for reform don't recognize the reality of how broken ICE is and fail to plant the idea of doing things better via a new agency, ideally one that's not under the DHS umbrella.

[mr715]

118. Here's the thing, though

Trump is under water on immigration now.

We are in a position to present an ambitious agenda that is in line with what the broader public wants. They are tired of seeing our rights violated and cities being victimized.

We can run on this and win.

If we run on this and lose, we were never going to win anyway.

[yellow dahlia]

100. Chuck Schumer is not the leader required in this time.

I am repeating myself - but worth repeating.

[Joinfortmill]

102. Jeezus, Chuck, wake up. It's an attempted coup

[travelingthrulife]

124. Wrong answer, Chuck.

[MustLoveBeagles]

125. I try so hard to support all Democrats

But some Democrats make that extremely difficult.

[LoisB]

128. He did not ask me.