One would think that, since we are in a war against a nation that specializes in sending its third-party agents on terrorist sprees across the world, Republicans in the Executive and Legislative branches would want to make sure members of the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) get paid.
Wrong again.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security has been cut off for over a month because Mr. Trump and his MAGA Republicans are refusing to consider reforms to ICE and Customs and Border Patrol agents stemming from their Gestapo-like behavior in wreaking domestic terror on American cities that have resulted in the wrongful/illegal detention of innocent people and deaths of American citizens.
Even when Democratic Senators have repeatedly offered funding proposals under unanimous consent rules to pay for all of the Department except ICE, Republicans have taken turns objecting.
As a result, TSA employees are calling in sick at increased rates, are looking for second jobs, and are finding it harder to get to work because they can not pay for the rising gas costs, thanks to Mr. Trump’s war of choice against Iran, which is making people worry about potential increased terrorist activity.
Passengers are also facing check-in delays at most United States airports.
It is so bad that locations like Denver International Airport are asking passengers to donate grocery and gas station gift cards to TSA employees.
Earlier in the week, Texas Representative Greg Cesar engaged in an argument with Senator John Coryn, who was bringing burgers to TSA employees.
Cesar challenged Coryn to vote to fund DHS without ICE.
While the White House and Senate Democrats have recently exchanged proposals and counterproposals, House Democrats have launched a discharge petition to fund Homeland Security minus ICE and Customs and Border Patrol.
In remarks explaining this action, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said:
“This is day 33 of the Trump Republican shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Why is this happening? It’s because Republicans have decided to force TSA agents to work without pay, inconvenience millions of Americans across the country, and create chaos at airports rather than get ICE under control.”
Arizona’s Democratic Congressional Delegation has reacted to the impasse that threatens the livilihoods of people charged with protecting Americans.
Representative Yassamin Ansari posted:
“Hey everyone, House Democrats just launched a discharge petition to separate out the funding for DHS, basically to separate ICE from everything else, because we want to make sure that as a result of this Trump and Republican DHS shutdown, hardworking Americans who are keeping us safe at the airports, TSA workers, or through FEMA are paid. They have now missed their first paycheck; it’s unacceptable, and Republicans are refusing to bring this to the House floor for a vote. As a reminder, Democrats have been successful multiple times now with discharge petitions.
It’s become one of our most effective tools. It’s how we got the Epstein files moving. It’s how we passed in the House three-year extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits.
So now in this moment, it is vital that a couple of Republicans get on board, sign this discharge petition, so we can get critical, hardworking Americans paid immediately. I will not fund another dollar for ICE that is brutalizing and terrorizing our communities, so we need to separate ICE from everything else.”
At the event with Leader Jeffries, Representative Adelita Grijalva said:
“We will not give ICE another penny while this lawless agency goes unchecked. My name is Adelita Grijalva, and I’m proud to represent Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, a community that is all too familiar with this administration’s cruel immigration agenda. We are seeing ICE racially profile and terrorize black and brown communities, disappearing mothers, fathers, nanas, tatas, and our babies.
We are witnessing massive for-profit detention facilities spring up out of thin air in warehouses that are more suitable for housing livestock and supplies than human beings. Meanwhile, inside existing facilities, people are dying from the most basic treatable illnesses. Emmanuel Damas, a Haitian refugee and father, died after developing septic infection from a toothache.
A toothache should not be a death sentence. Being detained should not be a death sentence. This is the same agency that also murdered Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, and Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three.
House Democrats stand firm. We will not give ICE another penny while this lawless agency goes unchecked. Los demócratas se mantienen firmes.
No daremos ni un centavo más a ICE mientras esta agencia sin control siga actuando sin rendir cuentas. At the same time, we will make sure that federal employees, TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and CISA are paid the wages they deserve. Republicans should come to the table.
Stop holding federal workers hostage to shield this administration from accountability for its inhumane immigration policies.“
Representative Greg Stanton, a member of the New Democrat Coalition posted the below statement.
Americans want a competent government that protects its citizens and oversees an economy that provides opportunity for a fulfilling life.
Mr. Trump and his band of MAGA loyalists have proven time and again that they are not up to the task, as they put unchecked white nationalist terrorist whims and demands, and personal and corporate profit over the needs and safety of the American people.
Rather than forget like they did in 2024, voters need to remember that in the next two election cycles.
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