{"id":2585104,"date":"2026-03-29T15:48:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T19:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lankford-says-democrats-made-absurd-demand-for-no-ice-polls\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T15:49:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T19:49:39","slug":"lankford-says-democrats-made-absurd-demand-for-no-ice-polls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lankford-says-democrats-made-absurd-demand-for-no-ice-polls\/","title":{"rendered":"Lankford says Democrats made &#8216;absurd&#8217; demand for no ICE polls"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flankford-says-democrats-made-absurd-demand-for-no-ice-polls%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2585104&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) criticized Democrats\u2019 DHS reform proposals as \u201cabsurd,\u201d citing demands such as prohibiting ICE at polling places and restrictive language on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/must-be-dismantled-ben-jerrys-attacks-americas-police-system\/\" title=\"\u2018Must Be Dismantled\u2019: Ben &amp; Jerry\u2019s Attacks America\u2019s Pol... System\">body-worn camera footage<\/a> that would limit prosecutions to agents onyl. He argued that Republicans want to reopen DHS and provide funding for ICE and CBP, noting that Democrats\u2019 reforms would undermine border enforcement. the House rejected a Senate deal to reopen DHS and fund it through May 22, keeping the shutdown in place while Senate Democrats said they had \u201cheld the line\u201d on the terms. Lankford also highlighted ongoing funding and cybersecurity concerns, and described the negotiations as very frustrating. The article also notes that Trump planned to sign an executive order to pay TSA workers during the shutdown,with officials suggesting payments could come as early as Monday,reflecting continuing strains on airport security.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Lankford says Democrats made &lsquo;absurd&rsquo; demand for no ICE presence at polls in DHS reform<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2544960\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) said Democrats are &ldquo;demanding&rdquo; multiple &ldquo;absurd&rdquo; requests in the reform for the Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n<p>The House of Representatives rejected a Senate deal to reopen DHS as it continues its weekslong shutdown, pushing to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4507334\/house-passes-eight-week-dhs-deal-to-punt-shutdown-back-to-senate\/\">fund all of DHS through<\/a> May 22. Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY) said <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4506494\/democrats-say-republicans-caved-dhs-deal-despite-no-immigration-policy-reform\/\">the Democratic caucus &ldquo;held the line&rdquo;<\/a> with this deal, which doesn&rsquo;t fund <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\/\">U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/november-migrant-apprehensions-along-southwest-border-jump-140-percent-over-last-year\/\" title=\"November Migrant Apprehensions Along Southwest Border Jump 140 Percent over Last Year\">border security operations<\/a> through Customs and Border Protection.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4508850\/sen-ron-johnson-says-democrats-use-two-martyrs-killed-by-feds-to-defund-police\/\">Sen. Ron Johnson says Democrats use &#8216;two martyrs&#8217; killed by feds to defund police<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4508455\/bill-maher-press-elissa-slotkin-democratic-stand-against-iran-war\/\">Bill Maher presses Elissa Slotkin over Democratic stand against Iran war<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4507097\/comparing-iran-iraq-31-flavors-delusion-joe-concha\/\">Comparing the Iran war to the Iraq War is &lsquo;31 flavors of delusion&rsquo;: Joe Concha<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Lankford vented about how &ldquo;difficult&rdquo; it is to work with Democrats who don&rsquo;t want to fund ICE, and said this new deal doesn&rsquo;t provide any new funding for ICE and CBP. He said Senate Republicans &ldquo;pre-funded&rdquo; both agencies for the next three years under the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4507531\/republicans-risk-big-beautiful-bill-divisions-fresh-reconciliation-push\/\">One Big Beautiful Bill Act<\/a> passed in 2025 to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >avoid future funding fights<\/a> on border security.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What Democrats were asking for for ICE and CBP on their quote-unquote reforms were absolutely absurd,&rdquo; Lankford said on NBC&rsquo;s <em>Meet the Press<\/em>. &ldquo;They asked for things, for instance, like ICE could not be at polling places. Well, if you&rsquo;re not legally present, you shouldn&rsquo;t be voting in America, but Democrats were demanding that ICE agents would not go to a polling place.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3452690&amp;userid=11311&amp;usertype=user&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=b215e982cd56ff93ba299445ffba4135\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&ldquo;They were demanding body-worn cameras, which we were fine with and said, &lsquo;Yes, absolutely, let&rsquo;s add funding for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/media-figure-says-its-convenient-police-dont-have-bodycam-footage-of-moments-beto-staffer-officer-allegedly-assaulted-her\/\" title=\"Media Figure Says It\u2019s \u2018Convenient\u2019 Pol... Don\u2019t Have Bodycam Footage Of Moments Beto Staffer, Off...r Allegedly Assaulted Her\">body worn cameras<\/a>.&rsquo; Then they brought back language and said, &ldquo;Well, the body-worn cameras can only be the footage &ndash; can only be used to prosecute agents. They can&rsquo;t be used to prosecute anyone else on the film, that is anyone else that would actually be not legally be present in the country.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Lankford added that Republicans want to reopen DHS amid this &ldquo;very frustrating negotiation.&rdquo; <em>Meet the Press <\/em>anchor Kristen Welker noted that the Senate vote on this deal &ldquo;was unanimous,&rdquo; and said it seems Republicans aren&rsquo;t &ldquo;on the same page.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Welker then asked Lankford about the strain <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4504302\/government-no-trust-airport-safety-privatize-tsa\/\">airport security<\/a> is facing amid this shutdown, amid the war in Iran, and whether it is safe to travel at this time. The senator assured Welker that it is safe to travel, saying &ldquo;a lot of great patriots&rdquo; are working unpaid as they &ldquo;protect the nation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4506297\/trump-officials-stoke-concerns-ice-polling-centers-dhs-denials\/\"><strong>TRUMP OFFICIALS STOKE DEMOCRATS&rsquo; CONCERNS OF ICE AT POLLING CENTERS DESPITE DHS DENIALS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lankford added that cybersecurity professionals are needed, but they&rsquo;re &ldquo;not being funded&rdquo; at the time, calling for Congress to rectify this.<\/p>\n<p>Trump announced Thursday that he will sign&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4505730\/trump-order-pay-tsa-mullin-dhs-shutdown\/\">an executive order to pay thousands<\/a>&nbsp;of Transportation Security Administration workers as the DHS shutdown continues. Border czar Tom Homan said TSA officers could be paid&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/4508826\/tsa-officers-paid-monday-homan\/\">as early as Monday<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lankford: Dems push absurd ICE-free polling reform<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2585105,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26080584115156-e1774804895417.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[3685,76774,36382,11252,36160],"class_list":["post-2585104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-democrats","tag-ice-polls","tag-immigration-policy","tag-lankford","tag-political-controversy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26080584115156-e1774804895417.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2585104"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585104\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2585108,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585104\/revisions\/2585108"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2585105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2585104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2585104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2585104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}