GOP, Democrats clash on Capitol Hill as Republicans target cartels and Dems push to curb ICE partnerships

By Fox News · Fox News

FIRST ON FOX: A Republican lawmaker in the House of Representatives introduced legislation on Thursday to make federal resources for fighting illegal immigration available to local authorities — even as Democrats unveiled their own language that would restrict partnerships between the two. Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., unveiled the COPS Anti-Organized Crime and Cartel Enforcement Act of 2025, looking to provide new resources to local communities combating cartels and other organized threats. 201 HOUSE DEMS VOTE AGAINST BILL NAMED AFTER 20-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TEEN Those new resources would be made available through the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office. "My bill gives police departments access to federal COPS grant funding specifically to create specialized units that can take on organized crime, with the training, equipment and personnel they need to dismantle these operations," Harrigan said. His bill comes as Democrats led by Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., unveiled the PROTECT Act, a piece of legislation that would forbid federal agencies from deputizing local authorities to carry out immigration-related enforcement. The contrasting pieces of legislation highlight split understandings over the country’s most pressing law enforcement needs and views on how to address them. Harrigan’s bill would create a $200 million COPS grant over four years. Under current law, COPS provides a wide range of federal assistance for specific purposes — like its "Anti-Heroin Task Force Awards" or the "Preparing for Active Shooter Situations" grant. The proposed bill would create a similar category for communities grappling with organized crime and cartels. The bill expands the permissible uses of COPS funding to include the purchase of drones, ballistic vests, helmets and other pieces of equipment. It also looks to codify one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders allowing the purchasing of tactical vehicles by local l…