Chuck Schumer blamed Republicans for the recent deaths that occurred during operations of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE), ensuring that they rejected reforms aimed at increasing supervision over federal agents.

During a speech on the Senate floor, Schumer maintained that the Democratic Party pushed measures to establish body cameras, warrant requirements, rules on the use of force and greater training for ICE agents, but he assured that all were rejected by the Republican majority.

“Senate Republicans know full well that they were the ones who abandoned our common-sense reforms to impose limits on ICE,” Schumer said.

Democrats insist on imposing controls on ICE

The senator especially criticized Republican Susan Collins, of Maine, for blaming Democrats for the situation, despite the fact that — as he recalled — she voted against an amendment that sought to force ICE agents to wear body cameras.

Schumer assured that, if these measures had been approved, some recent events could have been avoided.

“If Republicans had accepted our proposal to require body cameras, warrant requirements, use-of-force rules, and other basic reforms, these deaths could have been prevented,” he declared.

The Democratic leader also questioned that Republicans approved a budget package that allocated tens of billions of dollars to immigration agencies without including additional oversight mechanisms.

In addition, he criticized the reestablishment of policies related to vehicle stops and questioned the position of President Donald Trump's administration regarding the actions of federal agents.

At the close of his speech, Schumer launched one of his harshest messages against the Republican caucus.