# Discussion regarding Democrats forcing a shutdown over ICE overreach (2026 ICE shootings) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 26, 2026, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058 "2026-01-26T21:32:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/41 "2026-01-27T18:19:42Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Explain how the Democrats can spin this as a win. I don’t think it will come to a shutdown. There’s popular support for a pushback on ICE oversight with some minor Pub support. The situation has changed since the bills were negotiated; some concerns have become reality. It’s reasonable to renogotiate the deal. It’s clear that ICE is an LEO organization with at least pockets of improper training otherwise we wouldn’t see these fatal, unforced errors. The Dems need to find a few positions they are for and not against. They need to articulate these positions in plain language and not PR-speak. They need positions with broad popularity. I think a Federal LEO force operating inside the US, with improper and dangerous procedures, against US citizens might be one such issue, but I’m open to alternative positions. The reason a shutdown is such a third rail is because it upends stability and introduces risk to the country – specifically financial. But if the Administration’s polices have already done this, then a shutdown doesn’t have the same negative impact. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/42 "2026-01-27T18:52:01Z")
Democratic House leaders are insisting Noem step down or be impeached: > **[Andrew Solender (@andrewsolender.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/andrewsolender.bsky.social/post/3mdgdxre7zk2v)** > > NEW: House Democratic Leaders Jeffries, Clark and Aguilar say in a joint statement, "Kristi Noem should be fired immediately, or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives." > > "We can do this the easy way or the hard... This is very good. I hope they will stick to it. It may go nowhere (since they don’t have a majority), but the weaker Trump (and Noem in particular) appears, the more likely a handful of Republicans might decide to support this. Some Republicans might claim that this is all Noem’s fault, for failing Trump. And Trump might throw her under the bus and say everything was her fault. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/43 "2026-01-27T19:02:36Z")
From the statement: “_Republicans are planning to shut down large parts of the Government on Friday_…” - oh boy, here we go with the who’s actually shutting it down game. With that said, adding language to the bill that says who is all allowed to investigate ICE killings is a good restriction. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/44 "2026-01-27T19:13:30Z")
Senator Murphy defines the stakes: > **[Greg Sargent (@gregsargent.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/gregsargent.bsky.social/post/3mdgdg5vrg22j)** > > Also from this interview: > > "In the past, Republicans have waited us out because they thought we would break. This would be a dangerous moment for us to do that because of the specific moral question being put to the nation: Does the president of the... This is a very good and very simple argument. ‘We can’t support this funding bill because this administration is murdering American citizens with no accountability’… and/or ‘We won’t support funding an agency that is murdering American citizens with no accountability’. Can/will Democrats stick to it, potentially even up to a long shutdown? I hope so, but we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/45 "2026-01-27T19:39:43Z")
Here lately, it’s not voting FOR what you want, it’s voting against what you don’t. Being petulant and saying that they’re not pandering to YOU is the wrong way to look at things. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/46 "2026-01-27T19:57:29Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > This is a very good and very simple argument. ‘We can’t support this funding bill because this administration is murdering American citizens with no accountability’… and/or ‘We won’t support funding an agency that is murdering American citizens with no accountability’. Agreed. > [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > So the immediate result of a shutdown will be that ICE and Border Patrol go on their merry way, but FEMA gets shut down during the middle of bitter weather (with tornadoes in the South and spring flooding not far away) and your average air traveler will have to stand in security lanes longer while unhappy TSA agents either work without pay or don’t show up. The bill is asking for additional funding for ICE and Border Patrol. Shutting this down gives the Democrats a legitimate argument that they are hindering the abuses of those organizations. Given the justified outrage against the attack on American rights, I think it _would_ be a win. If people will be inconvenienced by longer lines and getting less help from FEMA and they know it’s because the Republicans insisted on giving more funding to ICE and CBP and wouldn’t back down on that, I don’t think it’s going to be the Democrats receiving most of the wrath. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/47 "2026-01-27T21:27:01Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > I would frame it so shutting down the govt is the only reasonable action that can be taken and wanting to open it (w/o doing some other thing first) would be unreasonable. And, a shut down would not stop ICE. Did you read my post? > [@DrDeth](#): > > Holding out for a few more weeks was unlikely to push the GOP to extend Obamacare subsidies, but it would have pushed a lot of travelers out of the sky and a lot of kids away from the dinner table. > [@CaveMike](#): > > “Coast Guard, ICE, CBP, FEMA, TSA and other agencies through the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30” from this link: The link does NOT claim they would be shut down, and in fact Law Enforcement agencies have never been shut down Here is what actually would be shut down- > **[What services are affected in a shutdown and how? - Government Shutdowns Q&A:...](https://www.crfb.org/papers/government-shutdowns-qa-everything-you-should-know#whatservicesaffected)** > > Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 began with the longest government shutdown in modern history, lasting from October 1, 2025 through November 12, 2025. On November 12, the President signed a funding measure that provided full-year Agriculture, Military... Note this- “\* **Immigration & Border Enforcement:** Immigration and border personnel are considered essential and thus required to report to work without pay during government shutdowns. However, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” of 2025 funded these agencies with mandatory funding, so changes in their operations would likely be minimal and employees would likely continue to be paid.” > [@China\_Guy](#): > > and the government shutdown won’t affect the ICE budget. Yep. > [@Smapti](#): > > Don’t worry, folks - Chuck Schumer is already working out how to cave on this one too. > [@Smapti](#): > > According to one of the sources, Schumer told them that the vote won’t come until Thursday and that he discussed the Democratic caucus’ unity in opposition to funding DHS without reforms. He said the five other funding bills apart from the DHS measure are acceptable. Did you read your own post? > [@Alessan](#): > > No risk, no reward. The Dems should stick to their guns until the GOP folds. They didnt fold last time. Mind you, they might agree to a compromise this time. So yeah, do not allow the DHS budget to pass. > [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > So the immediate result of a shutdown will be that ICE and Border Patrol go on their merry way, but FEMA gets shut down during the middle of bitter weather (with tornadoes in the South and spring flooding not far away) and your average air traveler will have to stand in security lanes longer while unhappy TSA agents either work without pay or don’t show up. > > Explain how the Democrats can spin this as a win. Right. > [@CaveMike](#): > > I don’t think it will come to a shutdown. There’s popular support for a pushback on ICE oversight with some minor Pub support. > > The situation has changed since the bills were negotiated; some concerns have become reality. It’s reasonable to renogotiate the deal. It’s clear that ICE is an LEO organization with at least pockets of improper training otherwise we wouldn’t see these fatal, unforced errors. This seems possible. Even MAGAs are saying the ICE actions in Minnesota are going too far. But a short shutdown to get the Publics attention is not necessarily a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/48 "2026-01-27T22:57:56Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And, a shut down would not stop ICE. I was using words loosely. I would not vote on a bill that does not put restrictions on ICE’s appropriation of $10billion dollars. Since that will take time to hash out, there will need to be a partial shutdown of the Gov’t. I’d assume Republicans would not want to split off the other appropriations funding and use those as leverage (_even if they don’t and it’s just DHS funding the framing/argument is the same_). Knowing that’s how the shutdown will start on Friday, if I’m a Democrat, I would frame how I enter that shutdown in a particular way, a way that makes it seem like a partial shut down is sensible. Of course we need to hold up and put restrictions on this money. It’s reasonable to put restrictions on a Gov’t agency who enters homes w/o warrants and shoots citizens in the head before giving that agency more money - it’s unreasonable to just hand over $10b w/o those restrictions on it. The longer the shutdown goes on, the more it’s on the politicians not wanting to put restrictions on the money who seem like the obstructionist. There’s no need to hide about who is shutting down the gov’t (I am) or why (ICE is out of control and needs restrictions). It’s not about stopping ICE or defunding them. It’s literally about restricting how they use $10b in funds/powers of Congress to control the Executive. A moment has been offered. I would leverage the moment. I think it’s respectful to how this moment came to be. Late: Since it takes 60 votes to get past filibuster, Dems have all the power they need. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/49 "2026-01-27T23:39:12Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And, a shut down would not stop ICE. Yes. In a law-abiding administration, ICE would still operate during a shutdown, but agents wouldn’t be paid until afterwards. This would lower morale and result in a certain number of paycheck-to-paycheck employees using leave so they could make money elsewhere. That would slow down ICE, making the shutdown arguably rational. But that’s NOT the real world. The administration will do what it did last year, paying the employees it likes best on-time, including ICE and the Border Patrol, law or no law: [Trump administration pushes limits to pay federal law enforcement amid shutdown](https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2025/10/budgetary-twister-trump-administration-pushes-limits-to-pay-federal-law-enforcement-amid-shutdown/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) In theory, Democrats could sue to stop paychecks from going out until after the shutdown. But that would alienate swing voters. And while lower courts might quickly give the Democrats a temporary injunction, experience from last year says that SCOTUS would reverse that, with little chance of a final ruling this year. I suppose that congressional Democrats have little choice because their base has been taught that metaphorical fighting can limit the damage of Trumpism. But I do not understand how a shutdown, of any length, can force the GOP to greatly limit ICE. At best, the GOP will allow some worthwhile small limitation, just to divide the Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/50 "2026-01-28T06:48:01Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > I suppose that congressional Democrats have little choice because their base has been taught that metaphorical fighting can limit the damage of Trumpism. But I do not understand how a shutdown, of any length, can force the GOP to greatly limit ICE. I have been pretty measured and practical in how the Administration should be countered, but I find the situation with ICE to be chilling. An armed force, with no oversight, and beholden to the Administration is restraining, arresting, killing US citizens. It’s the same feeling I had on Jan 6. Why shouldn’t we threaten a government shutdown? What are we trying to save here? I think there is an assumption that if just keep the lights on and power through to the midterms, everything will be ok. That’s outdated 2013 thinking. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/51 "2026-01-28T09:26:45Z")
If Democrats won’t use what little power they have to fight this tyranny and murder, what’s the point of having that limited power? And yes, if they don’t fight, many Democratic voters will be demoralized and less likely to vote. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/52 "2026-01-28T10:02:16Z")
Good and Pretti were people, everyday normal folks, who were so disgusted with the crimes being committed by ICE that they took to the streets and exercised the limited power they had to stop or slow these daily abuses. AND they got killed for this. Its amazing to me, that there are MUCH MORE powerful Democrats and Republicans who see this and do nothing. They are **able** , but do not **want** to do anything, and their inaction is staunchly defended. Its far beyond time to pull out all the stops. Lines need to be drawn. [Which side are you on!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iAIM02kv0g) Not fighting? then get out of the way! Primary them. And whenever you finally win? **Prosecute ALL of the administration you can**. If you are lucky, the rot and collaborators won’t be so high that prosecution is untenable and you must set up a truth and reconciliation hearing instead. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/53 "2026-01-28T16:54:01Z")
To make sure we all agree on what a shutdown is, I’ll just say each year every department gets their annual “salary”. 12 different bills accomplish that. One for State dept, one for justice, one for homeland security, etc. If these don’t get passed, then the dept doesn’t get its “salary”. These 12 bills just passed the House and are now in the Senate. However, there’s also what I’ll call a bonus. This is supplemental money. The big beautiful bill gave DHS a nice fat bonus. So a shutdown just means you’re not going to get your salary. If you saved money, or you got a nice big bonus, you won’t run out of money if you don’t get your annual salary. Nobody is forced to actually shut down operations just because their annual salary was not approved. They just stop working because they have no savings and rely on their yearly salary to operate year to year. Since it’s illegal to spend money that was not properly appropriated to you, then you just run out money whatever day you run out of money. This Friday is just the day you were supposed to get your annual salary paid. With that in mind, it also helps to understand the current argument and past argument for a shutdown. This current argument, to me, would create a “clean” shutdown. The ACA subsidies shutdown was not clean. Not Clean Argument: We are not funding any Gov’t Dep’t and using the pain it creates as leverage to get some other thing, unrelated to funding, accomplished (passing ACA subsidies). Nothing wrong with this, just a lil messy argument. Clean Argument: The money we are appropriating right now is to fund DHS (ICE). I will not appropriate it until ICE agrees to change and/or we restrict how they are going to use the money that is being appropriated right now. The thing we want to change is the thing we are voting on = clean. Also, because of that, I don’t need the leverage of the other 11 funding bills. Let’s pass those. Nothing else actually has to “shutdown” except DHS. I’m not even sure I’d call this a shut down since most of Gov’t would be open and operating with new funding. (_as has been noted, much of DHS sub-departments have plenty of money without this appropriation from their “bonus” and won’t run out anytime soon…so it can get a lil “unclean” if the argument is about ICE but only say FEMA/TSA runs out of money soon and has to shut down…in theory you can separate the funding bills into sub-department funding, fund FEMA now, but not ICE; but practically the vote is on the broad “Homeland Security” level_). This is oversimplified to be sure but it is the basic framework of what is happening. Late: The point of this was to show that we don’t need the pain of the shutdown to get something else accomplished/draw attention to some other thing. The thing that we want to accomplish is being voted on right now. Tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/54 "2026-01-28T18:19:20Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > Its amazing to me, that there are MUCH MORE powerful Democrats and Republicans who see this and do nothing. They are **able** , but do not **want** to do anything, and their inaction is staunchly defended. We don’t want to rock the boat, do we? For many of the Trump years, there’s been an underlying idea that any action taken just helps him. We can’t do X because that only helps Trump and doing Y helps Trump. But by now we should know sitting around doing nothing also helps Trump. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/55 "2026-01-28T22:11:54Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > If Democrats won’t use what little power they have to fight this tyranny and murder, what’s the point of having that limited power? Shutting down the government isnt really "power’. And if the other side refuses to compromise, you have harmed millions of Americans for nothing gained. > [@orcenio](#): > > They are **able** , but do not **want** to do anything, and their inaction is staunchly defended. There is little the Dems can really do. > [@CoolHandCox](#): > > Let’s pass those. Nothing else actually has to “shutdown” except DHS. I’m not even sure I’d call this a shut down since most of Gov’t would be open and operating with new funding. > > (_as has been noted, much of DHS sub-departments have plenty of money without this appropriation from their “bonus” and won’t run out anytime soon_ Apparently the GOP has to approve to split the DHS budget off. But yes, if that is the extent of the Filibuster, nothing will really “shut down” per se. This is the current plan- [https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/28/congress/democrats-dhs-minnesota-shutdown-00753256](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/01/28/congress/democrats-dhs-minnesota-shutdown-00753256) _Senate Democrats on Wednesday revealed the DHS restrictions they need in exchange for helping Republicans avert a shutdown Friday night, including the tightening of rules on warrants._ _Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer outlined the asks after a closed-door caucus meeting, telling reporters that Democrats were united around “common sense and necessary policy goals.”_ Seems a very reasonable compromise to me. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/56 "2026-01-28T22:23:19Z")
It is exactly power. Very limited, but still power. And they need to use it. Hopefully they’re willing to follow through with what they’re saying. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/57 "2026-01-28T22:27:16Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > It is exactly power. Very limited, but still power. It is the political equivalent of the scene in Blazing Saddles where Bart holds a gun to his own head and says “one more step and the n---- gets it.” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/58 "2026-01-28T22:31:15Z")
That’s ridiculous. The government is literally murdering American citizens for no reason. If the Democrats don’t use what limited power they have to try and fight this, then what’s the point of having Democrats in Congress right now? ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/59 "2026-01-28T22:31:38Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > There is little the Dems can really do. I hear this over and over and over again. Obama can’t appoint a judge without Republican approval. Trump cannot be stopped from appointing all his family members to key executive positions. Biden’s Justice department cannot prosecute Trump for his crimes. Trump cannot be stopped from engaging in international economic warfare with the world, from raising a paramilitary force of masked jackbooted thugs, from setting up an El Salvadorian black site for foreigners, revoking status at will, violating rights and law at will. I’m not American, I do not know your laws. But I no longer believe the non-MAGA folks when they say they are powerless. I see constant acquiescence. Its constant. What I see in the Minnesota protestors is downright inspiring. However I feel their use of [direct action](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct_action) (subvert ICE on the ground; videotape everything -if you bleed, bleed on camera) are required because their political leaders (the Dems) have long abandoned them. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058/60 "2026-01-28T22:44:34Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > That’s ridiculous. The government is literally murdering American citizens for no reason. If the Democrats don’t use what limited power they have to try and fight this, then what’s the point of having Democrats in Congress right now? Is hurting millions Americans power? > [@DrDeth](#): > > Holding out for a few more weeks was unlikely to push the GOP to extend Obamacare subsidies, but it would have pushed a lot of travelers out of the sky and a lot of kids away from the dinner table. Sure, do a Filibuster over the DHS budget- demand that reasonable compromise. Shut down the government- for a while. But once it is obvious the GOP is not giving in, and millions of Americans are being hurt by the shut down- it was time to give in. You see- if the GOP does NOT and will NOT give in, what is the point of keeping the government shut down? > [@orcenio](#): > > Biden’s Justice department cannot prosecute Trump for his crimes. They did- in the classified documents case. But once the trump judge was in charge, it was game over. And the states did- NY convicted trump. > [@orcenio](#): > > Obama can’t appoint a judge without Republican approval That is how the Constitution is written. The Senate must confirm. > [@orcenio](#): > > Trump cannot be stopped from appointing all his family members to key executive positions. He didnt. One in law was appointed as an Ambassador. Not one family member is a member of the cabinet. And again, that is how the Constitution works, the senate confirms appointments. > [@orcenio](#): > > Trump cannot be stopped from engaging in international economic warfare with the world, Congress passed that law, Congress can repeal that law. Currently the Congress is controlled by the GOP. > [@orcenio](#): > > I’m not American, I do not know your laws Obviously. What nation is yours? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/discussion-regarding-democrats-forcing-a-shutdown-over-ice-overreach-2026-ice-shootings/1027058.md?page=4)