DHS Shutdown: ICE at Airports, No Concessions from White House

The Department of Homeland Security has been partially shut down since February 14, leaving Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers without pay for more than 30 days as Democrats and Republicans have negotiated reforms in immigration enforcement efforts.

Proposal from Democrats: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) attempted to force a vote in the Senate that would allow the government to pay only TSA workers while Democrats and Republicans continue to negotiate demands over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding and reforms. "It is unacceptable for workers and travelers and entire airports to get taken hostage in political games," Schumer said. Republicans blocked his attempt, though Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has pushed his party members to consider breaking up the bill to reopen TSA and work on funding ICE later. 

Airport Issues: Some major airports have seen longer security lines due to a lack of TSA agents, who have not been paid since the shutdown began. More than 400 TSA officers have quit during the ongoing shutdown, according to agency numbers. President Donald Trump suggested sending ICE agents to assist TSA agents by checking IDs and maintaining order in security lines as soon as Monday. Axios (Lean Left) noted that the TSA officers' union rejected and criticized the plan. On Monday, border czar Tom Homan said ICE agents will be present at 14 airports starting immediately, "and there will be more." On Sunday night, two pilots died when their jet collided with a fire truck at New York City's LaGuardia Airport, an incident some have blamed on staffing and training issues with air-traffic controllers.

Who is to Blame? Fox News (Right bias) wrote that Democrats "have dug in deep in their demands for stringent reforms" to ICE and "have so far refused to reopen the agency or temporarily extend funding to end the closure until they get what they want." However, The Hill (Center) wrote that "cracks are beginning to show" in Republicans' unity "as some Republicans worry trying to pin the blame on Democrats won't produce a deal and could politically boomerang back on their own party."

Trump's Position: Trump previously said he would not sign any new bills until the Senate passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act. On Sunday, Trump said, "I don't think any deal should be made on this [DHS reopening] until they approve SAVE America."

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