Senate rejects Democratic measure to force more transparency on deportations to El Salvador
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans have blocked a Democratic resolution to require more transparency from the Trump administration about deportations to El Salvador.
The vote Thursday was the latest attempt by minority Democrats to force Senate votes disapproving of Trump administration policy. The Senate rejected, 45-50, the motion to discharge the resolution from committee and consider it immediately on the floor.
“This information is critical at a time when the Trump Administration has admitted to wrongfully deporting people to El Salvador, and after Trump has said he’s also looking for ways to deport American citizens to the same terrible prisons,” said Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the lead sponsor of the resolution.
The resolution blocked by Republicans would force administration officials to report to Congress about what steps it is taking to comply with courts that have ruled on the deportations. Democrats have highlighted the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to the Central American country and who a Maryland judge has said should be returned to the U.S.
Democrats want to put Republicans on record on that case and others while also pressuring the government of El Salvador, which is working with the Trump administration. The resolution would also require the Trump administration to reveal more information about money paid to El Salvador and assess the country’s human rights record.
It’s just the latest example of Democrats using the legislative tools available to them in the minority to try to challenge Trump’s agenda.
The Senate in early April passed a resolution that would have have thwarted Trump’s ability to impose tariffs on Canada, and Republicans narrowly blocked a similar resolution later that month that would have stalled Trump’s global tariffs. Four Republicans voted with Democrats on the first tariff measure, and three Republicans voted with them on the second resolution. No Republicans joined Democrats on Thursday’s measure on El Salvador.
The Democrats are forcing the votes under different statutes that allow so-called “privileged” resolutions — legislation that must be brought up for a vote whether majority leadership wants to or not.