Congressional Republicans are warning about the dangers of the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, citing concerns about domestic terrorist attacks after the U.S. authorized strikes against Iran over the weekend.
Republican leaders are pressing their Democratic colleagues, who continue to refuse to reopen the agency until the White House agrees to major policy reforms for how immigration officers operate in their day-to-day duties. But after the war began in Iran over the weekend, lawmakers are raising alarm bells about the danger of having the country’s hub of national security closed down.
“This is an agency that has, obviously, huge responsibilities and funds a number of important functions in our government, including our TSA agents who make it safe to fly,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters on Tuesday. “I’m hopeful that the Democrats will come to the conclusion that this is a really bad idea, particularly right now.”
Funding for DHS lapsed on Feb. 14, and White House officials have been engaged in prolonged negotiations with Senate Democrats since then. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the two parties are still “far apart” on an agreement, heightening the risks of potential attacks on U.S. soil, Republicans argue.
Republicans specifically pointed to a mass shooting in Texas on Sunday morning, leaving two dead and 15 others wounded. The suspect was wearing clothes with an Iranian flag design as well as the words “Property of Allah,” according to law enforcement officials, who are investigating the incident as a potential act of terrorism.
“The Democrats want to keep the Department of Homeland Security shut down at a time when they ought to be focused on the terrorism that cannot happen here in America,” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said on Tuesday. “Terrorism is the biggest risk that we have right now in the homeland, and the Democrats want to continue to keep the Department of Homeland Security shut down. It’s absolutely wrong.”
But Democrats have so far brushed off the threats the DHS shutdown could have on possible attacks. Instead, the minority party has reiterated its demands for substantial immigration reform.
“I’ve heard Republicans suggest that we should fund ICE because they started an illegal war with Iran — that’s ridiculous,” said Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, top Democrat on the DHS Appropriations subcommittee. “The American public wants ICE to stop murdering people, and they also don’t want us at war with Iran.”
Some Democrats have suggested partially funding the department by removing the budget allocated for Immigration and Customs Enforcement until a deal is brokered, but still providing money for agencies such as TSA, Secret Service, and the Coast Guard. Democrats introduced a bill to do that last month, but Republicans have been adamant to fund the department in its entirety — worrying a split would mean ICE would not get funding for the remainder of the fiscal year.