Republicans block Democratic bill to fund DHS agencies other than ICE, CBP

Senate Democrats on Wednesday seemingly sought to turn the tables on Republicans, asking for unanimous consent to pass a bill to fund agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that do not conduct immigration enforcement.

Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, asked for unanimous consent for a measure to fund the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies. It would not cover Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Republican Sen. Katie Britt (Ala.) objected.

“We have political games being played by our Democratic colleagues instead of putting the people of this nation first,” Britt said. “Mr. President, what we’ve just seen put forth by the senator from Washington would effectively defund our law enforcement officers that are charged with keeping Americans safe.”

She added, “Look, we’re not going back to the era of defund police. We’re not doing it.”

Republicans have been ramping up pressure on Democrats to end the DHS shutdown, which is in its fourth week, accusing the minority party of endangering Americans by refusing to fund the department just as the Iran conflict is heightening threats to the homeland and of cutting off law enforcement resources that help prevent dangerous drugs from entering the U.S.

They’ve also pointed to hours-long TSA lines at some airports around the country in a bid to push Democrats to relent.

Democrats, however, are seemingly making a political bet that more voters are likely to praise them for seeking to rein in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown — after two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens at the hands of immigration agents in Minneapolis — than will blame them for keeping DHS shut down.

And they are seeking to put the blame for any pain DHS employees going without paychecks or other Americans might feel squarely back on the GOP.

“I don’t want to hear any complaints from Republicans about TSA not being funded if they block this today. I don’t want to hear any complaints from Republicans about Coast Guard not being funded if they block this today,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said before Murray spoke.

“I don’t want to hear any complaints from Republicans about cybersecurity and CISA if they block this today, the bottom line is very simple,” he added.

Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) noted the vote “would send a very clear signal that they are not interested in opening up TSA at our airports, FEMA for natural disasters, or CISA protecting us from cyber threats.”

He added later, “We’re concerned about lines at our airports. We’re concerned about our TSA agents able to pay their bills for their family, and if Republicans do not object to Senator Murray’s bill, they will move forward.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), meanwhile, accused Democrats of refusing to sit down and reach a deal with the White House to fund DHS.

“I guess I’m at a loss as to why we continue to have an attempt, a one-sided attempt, it is, to actually sit down and solve this deal, and why we can’t, then, at least fund these agencies with a continuing resolution until such time as we can,” Thune said.

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