So, Senate Democrats have served notice that they will not provide the 8 votes the Republicans need to pass the funding bill needed to keep government open.

I hope they make avoiding shutdown contingent on the Republicans agreeing to these provisions.

1. ICE is disbanded, Bovino is fired, immigration enforcement returns to the Customs and Border Patrol.

2. Congress enacts stringent restrictions on CBP requiring that they not wear masks, they honor the civil and constitutional rights of everyone and generally they stop being dipshits.

3. Christy Noem resign as secretary of DHS.

4. Rosters be provided to law enforcement identifying which ICE and CBP personnel were on every single operation in the Twin Cities, so that those who abused people and violated their rights can be prosecuted.

5. Federal authorities turn over to state and local judicial authorities all evidence in the murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The shooter or shooters in the Pretti case be identified to local authorities.

6. The entire deportation operation of the federal government be stopped pending thorough investigation of it a panel of experts who can then recommend a humane and efficient way of proceeding with border enforcement.

7. Congress recognize the essential role that immigrants, legal and otherwise, play in American life and begin work on legislation that would provide effective immigration reform and a path to citizenship for EVERYONE who lives here now.8.

They put Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar in charge of these negotiations with instructions to take zero shit from the Republicans.

Yea, just spitballing. But we are way beyond accepting spineless half measures and business as usual in Washington. If senators need their spines stiffened, we should all do just that for them by applying big, pointy-toed boots to their backsides.