Democrats warn Trump on sanctuary cities as shutdown looms

""I know they're trying to change the conversation, but the issue is ICE's conduct," Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told Axios. "That's the issue before us, and we should not let them change the subject." "There aren't sanctuary cities in statute," Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) said. "There are places where people have different levels of cooperation, and that's up to those localities - but there isn't a national sanctuary-city policy.""

""These magnets of illegal immigration have to go," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said this week. "There is no upside to sanctuary cities unless you are a complete radical nutjob." "There are certain red lines both sides won't negotiate on, but there are some things they will negotiate on - and that's where I think the potential deal space is," Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters. "There's no reason we can't get this done by Thursday," Schumer told reporters."

Lawmakers are negotiating a narrower set of ICE reforms while racing to prevent a Department of Homeland Security funding lapse. Democrats focus on ICE conduct and emphasize there is no federal sanctuary-city statute, saying localities set cooperation levels. Republicans push to end sanctuary-city policies, calling them magnets for illegal immigration. Senate leaders identify nonnegotiable red lines but see potential deal space on some items. Leadership has scheduled votes on a House-passed DHS bill and may use a short-term spending stopgap if necessary to avert a shutdown.

Read at Axios