President Donald Trump must seek approval from Congress before any U.S. action against Iran, the nation’s top Democrat said Wednesday.
Watch House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ full news conference in the video player above.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he “wouldn’t put anything past this president,” when asked about potential U.S. military action toward Iran.
But he insisted Trump cannot act alone in conducting military actions.
“The American people clearly are of the view that before any adverse military action is taken unilaterally by Donald Trump and Republicans, that, of course, Congress — consistent with our constitutional responsibility — should approve any acts of war,” Jeffries said.
Democrats demand ICE reforms on Day 5 of DHS shutdown
Jeffries said without “dramatic, bold, meaningful” reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the funding Homeland Security bill funding will not move forward.
Jeffries said Trump and Republicans need to “own up to the chaos that they’ve created” under the big tax breaks and spending cuts bill that sent some $75 billion to ICE.
WATCH: Democratic counterproposal on DHS funding ‘very unserious,’ Leavitt says
Democrats are making a number of demands, including that immigration agents identify themselves by wearing body cameras and taking off their masks.
They further want agents to seek judicial warrants before entering private property and they’re pushing for a ban on immigration enforcement around sensitive locations, including schools, hospitals, houses of worship and polling places.
These remain “lines in the sand” in the negotiations with the administration, he said.
Over the weekend, Democrats sent the White House their latest offer. Jeffries said they are waiting for a response.
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