DHS Shutdown Drags On as Trump Deploys ICE to Support Airports

It is incredibly disappointing that we are now over a month into the Democrat shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Amid spring break travel, severe storms, and heightened national security threats, this prolonged funding lapse is putting Americans at risk.

Over 100,000 DHS employees have yet to receive a paycheck, with reports of TSA agents sleeping in their vehicles and even donating plasma to support their families, all while continuing to protect the traveling public.

In response to mounting airport chaos, President Trump announced that ICE agents will begin deploying to airports to assist TSA officers in managing long lines and staffing shortages. Major airports across the country are already experiencing delays of more than 3 hours, with hundreds of TSA employees quitting or calling out as the shutdown drags on.

Even industry leaders are calling for action. The CEOs of ten of the nation’s largest airlines warned, “air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown,” urging Democrats to immediately fund DHS and ensure this never happens again. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board made clear where responsibility lies, noting, “The only solution for today’s crazy TSA lines is…to fund the Department of Homeland Security.”

This crisis extends far beyond airports. Agencies tasked with protecting Americans—including the Coast Guard, Secret Service, FEMA, CISA, and others—are operating at reduced capacity, with tens of thousands furloughed or working without pay. At a time when adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are watching for weakness, America cannot afford to undermine its own security.

As former Obama DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson warned, “We are also compromising security… These are people we expect to look for bombs on aircraft… and they’re not being funded.”

National security should never be used as a bargaining chip. The Senate must act immediately to fund DHS, support its workforce, and ensure the safety of the American people.

Last week, 186 Democrats voted against deporting illegal aliens who defraud American taxpayers. The Deporting Fraudsters Act delivers real, commonsense consequences for illegal immigrants who exploit taxpayer-funded programs.

America is not a piggy bank for fraud. If you’re here illegally and stealing benefits, you’re going home.

The Sharia Free Caucus is gaining momentum, now 57 members strong—including 16 from the great state of Texas, as lawmakers work to ensure America’s laws remain rooted firmly in the U.S. Constitution. Led by Rep. Keith Self, the caucus is focused on one simple principle: in the United States, there is one standard of law that applies equally to every citizen.

Recent developments, like a neighborhood in Irving, Texas, with a mosque-centered community, have sparked renewed conversations about preserving that standard. While America proudly reflects a diversity of cultures and traditions, our legal system must remain unified, governed solely by the Constitution, not influenced by foreign legal doctrines.

The Sharia Free Caucus is committed to protecting that foundation, reinforcing equal justice under the law, and ensuring that American courts remain guided by the Constitution alone.