U.S. House passes bill to support ICE
A divided House has approved a symbolic Republican measure that praises U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement and ridicules Democratic efforts to abolish the agency.
The measure is an election-year effort by the GOP to use the immigration issue against Democrats.
A few liberal Democrats had introduced an earlier bill seeking to eliminate that agency. Republicans are hoping to use that legislation to tar all Democrats as extreme.
Democrats are accusing the GOP of ignoring President Donald Trump's separation of migrant children from their families. Democrats say the resolution is an effort to distract voters' attention from that and from Trump's expressed skepticism that Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. elections.
The House approved the GOP resolution praising ICE by a 244-35 vote, with 133 lawmakers voting present.
Congressman Greg Gianforte, a Republican from Montana, co-sponsored the legislation and spoke in favor of the bill on the floor today.
Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana, sponsored similar legislation in the Senate.
Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat from Montana, issued a statement saying he supports ICE agents and other law enforcement officers who secure our borders and keep drugs from entering the U.S.