BORDER/DEMS/FEDERAL FUNDING/ICE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Democratic leaders have agreed to fund a portion of the White House’s emergency funding request to address the surge of migrants at the southern border, according to multiple sources. Top Democrats indicated to Republicans late Thursday afternoon that they are willing to include some of the White House’s $4.5 billion proposal — specifically for humanitarian assistance — in a long-stalled disaster relief package. Democrats are willing to devote more money to the Office of Refugee and Resettlement, which has been in charge of thousands of unaccompanied minors who have crossed the border this year. But they rejected the White House’s more contentious requests, such as more money for detention beds or the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The formal offer from Democrats comes one week after Republican leaders first proposed tying the money for the White House’s border request to the disaster aid package, which includes $17 billion for communities affected by hurricanes, wildfires and extreme flooding in the last 18 months.”
–Sarah Ferris and John Bresnahan, “Dems agree to billions in humanitarian aid for southern border,” Politico, May 16, 2019 6:50 pm