Democrats demand ‘dramatic changes’ for ICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — Democrats are threatening to block funding for the Homeland Security Department when it expires in two weeks unless there are “dramatic changes” and “real accountability” for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other law enforcement agencies who are carrying out President Donald Trump’s campaign of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and across the country.

It’s unclear if the president or enough congressional Republicans will agree to any of the Democrats’ larger demands that the officers unmask and identify themselves, obtain judicial warrants in certain cases and work with local authorities, among other asks. Republicans have already pushed back.

House GOP lawmakers are demanding that some of their own priorities be added to the Homeland Security spending bill, including legislation that would require proof of citizenship before Americans register to vote and restrictions on sanctuary cities. There’s no clear definition of sanctuary jurisdictions, but the term is generally applied to state and local governments that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Here’s the latest:

Trump’s wants diplomacy to work with Iran ahead of Oman talks, but ready for other options

Trump is looking to strike a deal with Tehran in which Iran has “zero nuclear capability,” Leavitt said on the eve of high-level U.S.-Iran talks in Muscat, Oman.

And while Leavitt said Trump “wants to see if a deal can be struck,” she warned Tehran that the president was prepared to take military action, if needed.

“I would remind the Iranian regime that the President has many options at his disposal, aside from diplomacy as the commander-in-chief of the most powerful military in the history of the world,” Leavitt said.