Empowered congressional Democrats gear up for battles over immigration and ICE oversight

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Set us as preferred WASHINGTON — As it became clear on election day that Republicans would lose the House of Representatives, House Homeland Security Committee Democrats posted a three-word message on social media to Markwayne Mullin, who leads the agency: “clear your calendar.” The next day, Mullin posted a three-word message of his own: “Deportations will continue.” After affordability and the Iran war, immigration was a defining issue in the midterm elections, and now that Democrats won majorities in the House and Senate, they plan to increase agency oversight and attempt to rein in the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies.Politics Congressional Democrats vowed to put the Trump administration on the defensive with subpoenas and hearings, but said their priority is to make life more affordable.Come January, Democrats will control every House seat along the U.S.-Mexico border.

But while they will have wider leeway to investigate alleged wrongdoings of the last two years, how much they can advance their immigration agenda will likely depend on how much Republicans will collaborate with them.Any advances would also require the approval of President Trump, who on Friday appointed Stephen Miller, the architect of many of his administration’s most stringent immigration policies, as his new chief of staff.

Democrats have already started outlining their goals for next year and preparing to staff up.Job listings posted last week seek investigators, lawyers and law clerks whose duties would include immigration.

Rep.Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), who is poised to lead the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, said one of his major focus areas would be the Department of Homeland Security and abuses by immigration agents.

Garcia specifically named former Homeland Security...