The Senate approves funding for Homeland Security to end the chaos in airports, but ICE is not included.

 

BBC journalist caught in travel chaos at Houston Airport (Image: BBC)

The United States Senate has approved funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but immigration enforcement is not included in the vote to end the partial shutdown that lasted for 40 days. Air travel in the United States has impacted as a result of the nearly six-week funding gap. The DHS pays the salaries of airport security workers, and hundreds have left since the shutdown began. The Senate reached unanimous agreement in the early hours of Friday morning after removing ICE and portions of border protection from the measure, despite Democrats' refusal to agree to a funding deal without ICE reforms. The House of Representatives will now vote on the deal. As a result of a lack of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at security checkpoints, travelers have had to wait for hours in line at airports across the United States. 

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It is hoped that the new package will end the widespread disruption. Around 50,000 agents with the TSA - which sits under the DHS - have been working without pay since mid-February due to the shutdown.  This has resulted in hundreds of employees quitting and fewer showing up for work each day. A BBC reporter at Houston airport reported on Thursday night that, after waiting about two hours in a winding queue across one floor, frazzled travellers went up an escalator thinking they had reached the end - only to find another long line stretching towards security.

 Currently, only a third to 50% of its TSA checkpoints are operating, according to Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System.

On Truth Social, US President Donald Trump wrote that he would sign an executive order "to immediately pay out TSA Agents" a few hours before the vote in the Senate. After the vote, Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune addressed the chamber and stated, "Trump should never have had to step in to rescue TSA workers and US air travel." "We're here because, thanks to Democrats determined refusal to reach an agreement, there will be no Homeland Security funding bill this year," he said.  "Instead...  The Department of Homeland Security received sporadic funding from Republicans. The department should not be funded in that manner." Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the package included funding for the TSA, US Coast Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

 He stated to the chamber that "Senate Democrats were clear: no blank cheque for a lawless ICE and border patrol" following the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The actions of ICE agents have become increasingly contentious, particularly in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where US citizens Good and Pretti were shot by federal agents earlier this year during operations. Democrats want any deal on DHS funding to include measures like an end to ICE agents wearing masks, a ban on racial profiling and a requirement for judicial warrants to be issued before agents can enter private property.

 Before the funding package can take effect, the House of Representatives still needs to approve it.

Source: BBC