On Thursday’s broadcast of CNN’s “Situation Room,” Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) placed the blame for the current Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown squarely on the shoulders of the Republican party. He stated that it was the GOP who had caused the shutdown by refusing to pass legislation to fund DHS, and that Democrats were forced to “hold it up” in order to push for changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The DHS shutdown, which began on December 22nd, has left around 800,000 federal workers without pay and has caused widespread disruption to government agencies responsible for border security, transportation security, and disaster response. While President Trump and Democrats continue to clash over funding for the border wall, the DHS remains at a standstill, with no end to the shutdown in sight.
In his interview with CNN, Schumer made it clear that he and his fellow Democrats were not to blame for the current situation. He pointed out that the House of Representatives, then under Republican control, had passed a bill to fund DHS before the shutdown began, but that the Senate, also controlled by Republicans, had failed to approve it. Schumer stated, “We passed a bill to fund the whole government, including DHS. It’s sitting on Mitch McConnell’s desk. He could bring it up for a vote right now.”
Schumer went on to explain that Democrats were not opposed to funding for border security, but that they were opposed to funding for a border wall. He stated that instead of a wall, Democrats wanted to see funding for more technology, such as drones and sensors, to monitor the border and for additional personnel to be hired to work at ports of entry. Schumer also emphasized the need for changes to be made within ICE and CBP, stating, “We held it up. We said, ‘We’re not going to let you just pass a bill with no changes in ICE and CBP.'”
The minority leader’s comments are in line with the stance that Democrats have taken throughout the shutdown. They have repeatedly called for the government to be reopened while negotiations for border security continue. However, President Trump has remained firm in his demand for $5.7 billion in funding for a border wall, leading to a stalemate between the two sides.
The DHS shutdown has had far-reaching consequences, with many government workers struggling to make ends meet without pay. In addition, essential services provided by the DHS have been affected, leading to concerns over national security. Democrats have repeatedly called for the government to be reopened while negotiations continue, but President Trump has insisted on funding for the wall as a condition for ending the shutdown.
As the shutdown continues with no clear resolution in sight, it is clear that both parties must come to the table and find a compromise. Schumer’s remarks on Thursday highlight the Democrats’ willingness to negotiate but also their determination to push for changes within ICE and CBP. It is now up to Republicans to take action and end the DHS shutdown, for the sake of the American people and the sake of our national security.
