Congress Tries Partial DHS Funding Deal; Trump Threatens ICE Airport Deployment
Key Takeaways
- GOP leaders backed two-track DHS funding, funding TSA now while immigration-enforcement funding is deferred.
- Partial DHS funding lapse continues as Congress delays a vote, prolonging the shutdown.
- Immigration-enforcement funding was left out of the DHS deal, provoking opposition.
DHS Funding Stalemate
DHS has been partially shut down since February 14, with over 63,000 employees furloughed or unpaid.
“Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S”
Thune and Johnson announced a two-track plan to fund most of DHS while excluding ICE and Border Patrol.
Hard-right House Republicans declined to take up the Senate plan, prolonging the shutdown.
Trump threatened to deploy ICE personnel at airports to oversee security screening.
Political Divisions Over ICE
Democrats have blocked funding for DHS citing concerns over ICE practices.
The funding stalemate centers almost entirely on ICE, which employs about 6,000 agents out of 40,000.
Democratic senators including Schumer and Cortez Masto have voiced opposition to any DHS funding that includes ICE.
The Atlantic Council described the campaign as a high-risk gamble with unclear objectives.
Ramp-Up of ICE Operations
Trump's announcement comes after TSA employees were paid using an executive order.
“Senior Republicans in the U”
Trump tied DHS funding to the America Rescue Act, which Democrats oppose.
Critics warn rushing ICE funding could create new backlash.
The Gallup poll found only 30% of Americans approve of the House GOP's approach.
More on USA
Trump DOJ Says Presidential Records Act Is Unconstitutional
11 sources compared
Trump Fires Bondi Over Epstein, Replaces Her With Blanche
12 sources compared
Colorado Court Throws Out Tina Peters' Sentence, Orders Resentencing
11 sources compared
Trump Administration Orders 13,000 Asylum Seekers Deported to Third Countries
11 sources compared