So, as an advocate, I think the best way forward is for Democrats to talk directly to the people stating they want to prioritize refunding the department based on the safety of citizens. That means funding essential services such as the Coast Guard.
Congress can designer legislate the refunding of DHS. Designer legislation can also limit the reassignment of agents. The Department can be required to allow agents to work after completing necessary training in Quantico.
All the new agents are not necessary. ICE is heavy in personnel and they can be dismissed. A command authority of long serving agents that may have to be recalled back to employment can revitalize DHS with reviews of all the departments to be refunded and restructure requirements for agents, their training, their deployment, and disciplinary procedures for rouge agents.
DHS is not the law, only enforcement. People are to be guaranteed Due Process and complete safety through that process.
I do not see just a few modifications especially realizing the disarray the department is in and it‘s willingness to disrupt American lives. There is no respect for human life in the way the department is being run. ICE is about arresting the undocumented WITHOUT destroying the country from the inside out. Considering how much disarray exists in deportations it is going to be a long time to sort through who is to return to the USA. That is going to require more judges and courts to move these processes along.
I don’t see the department returning to the size it is now. It is far too large and requires too much funding. A lot has transpired in transportation since September 11, 2001 and all the reasons DHS was consolidated must be reviewed.
The special programs in the news article below clearly demonstrates how far we have come in perfecting security for travelers. These programs should be regarded as successes in the return of trust and security. Basically, to what extent is DHS as a single department still necessary? Such consolidation of power is proving to be a hazard rather than an enhancement.
Congress was wrong to put so much money into a wayward political objective. Congress doesn’t have to apologize, they need to get it right. DHS is NOT to return to its inhumane capacity ever again. It was consolidated to protect Americans, not place them in the line of fire. If Republicans can’t see the errors in trusting this administration then refuse to fund it at all.
Responsibly reduce the power within DHS, return function and not brutality, and cut funding to reasonable levels. All this will require new legislation of the department and possibly removing it from the status of cabinet level with new functional departments at the table instead. They can all still talk to each other within new organization, but, no one Secretary should have such consolidated power, personnel or budget.
ICE may have to be disbanded into State authority only. It can be funded federally and become a division of the State Bureau of Investigation. Customs can move to a responsibility of the Border Patrol with proper personnel and funding.
