The Trump administration has made various offers to encourage lawmakers to reinstate funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). However, Democrats are still hesitant to agree to compensating Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees.
Since the DHS shutdown on February 14th, talks between the White House and Democratic officials have stalled.
Tom Homan, the border czar, and legislative director James Braid addressed their concerns in a letter to Republican Senators Susan Collins and Katie Britt. In this correspondence, they outlined the administration’s proposed concessions.
The letter explained that many of the Democrats’ proposals could hinder efforts to safeguard Americans from harmful criminal aliens, thereby increasing risks to law enforcement and their families. Essentially, they argued that these proposals prioritize illegal immigrants over American families.
In the letter, Homan also mentioned the suspension of Operation Surge in Minnesota, a halt on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) patrols, the introduction of body-worn cameras, and stronger collaboration with local law enforcement.
Homan and Blade indicated that the administration is looking to establish more comprehensive guidelines, such as expanding body camera usage, limiting immigration operations in sensitive areas, and enhancing surveillance in detention facilities.
Despite these commitments, they claimed that Democratic lawmakers have not shown genuine interest in reaching a compromise.
The letter stated, “The Administration has sought bipartisan support to fully fund the DHS and is committed to implementing practical enhancements in federal immigration enforcement to bolster public safety.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the White House for a lack of seriousness in negotiations, pointing out that no progress has been made on key issues like warrants for home searches and police identification protocols.
In the meantime, TSA personnel missed their first full paycheck last week, with about 366 employees quitting last month, as reported by NBC News. A TSA representative noted a significant increase in the callout rate, which surged from 2% before the shutdown to over 10% by March 15th.
Adam Stahl, TSA’s Acting Deputy Administrator, warned that if callout rates continue to rise, smaller airports could face shutdowns.
