President Donald Trump urged Republican lawmakers to work through the upcoming Easter holiday to pass a voter-identification bill, according to The Independent. He suggested tying that bill to funding for the Department of Homeland Security. President Trump linked DHS funding to the SAVE America Act, a move criticized by Republicans and Democrats as unrealistic. The Department of Homeland Security has been partially shut down since February 13, with Congress failing to reach an agreement due to a stalemate over immigration enforcement, the DHS said.
The DHS shutdown has led to tens of thousands of Transportation Security Administration personnel working without pay for five weeks. Some TSA personnel have called in sick or quit due to the shutdown. DHS reported over 3,250 TSA call-outs on Saturday and more than 400 officers separated from the agency. Airports like Louis Armstrong New Orleans International and George Bush Intercontinental are experiencing hours-long delays due to TSA staffing shortages, according to multiple reports. The shutdown is expected to worsen travel disruptions during a busy spring season, with over 171 million travelers anticipated, DHS stated.
To address staffing shortages and delays, President Trump announced that ICE agents will assist TSA at airports starting Monday, overseen by border czar Tom Homan, according to multiple reports. DHS stated this involves deploying hundreds of ICE officers, funded by Congress, to airports with long waits. However, ICE agents are untrained in aviation security and dangerous, according to the American Federation of Government Employees union president, Everett Kelly. DHS initially suspended TSA PreCheck and Global Entry but walked back the decision for PreCheck, though confusion remains, the department reported.
The shutdown began on February 14 and affects only DHS funding, with Congress failing to reach an agreement due to a stalemate over immigration enforcement, according to multiple reports. The DHS shutdown is due to Democrats demanding immigration enforcement reforms, The Independent reported. Democrats seek restrictions on ICE and CBP, including prohibiting operations at sensitive locations and requiring warrants, while Republicans oppose these changes, according to multiple reports. Democrats have been pushing for judicial warrants before Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents enter private property, The Independent noted. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed uncertainty about resolving the warrant issue, noting administrative warrants have long been used but not normally for forcibly entering homes. "I'm not sure how you solve that one," Thune said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, dismissed combining DHS funding with the voter bill as unrealistic. "I think you all know that's not realistic," Thune said. He hoped for a path toward DHS measure passage by the end of the week, according to The Independent. Thune resisted President Trump's calls to eliminate the Senate filibuster rule, the outlet reported. The voting bill currently lacks the 60 votes needed to overcome Democratic opposition in the Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats, The Independent noted.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer accused President Trump of trying to sabotage negotiations by demanding talks stop until Congress passes the SAVE Act, according to The Independent. Senate negotiations are stalled, with both parties blocking proposals, multiple reports indicate.
The voting bill would require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and a photo ID for casting ballots, The Independent reported. Lawmakers are due to begin a two-week Easter recess at the end of the week, according to the outlet.