The US Senate had passed a bi-partisan compromise that would partially fund the DHS and aimed to alleviate airport travel delays, while excluding ICE.
But Republicans in the House of Representatives rejected the bill and instead voted to approve a short-term measure that funded the department in its entirety.
The Senate is not expected to pass that short-term measure, as Democrats have opposed funding for the department, which oversees Trump’s immigration agenda, without reforms, such as bans on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wearing masks and racial profiling.
Republicans in the House, though, have argued they would not support legislation without funding for immigration enforcement and voter ID requirements.
On Sunday, Trump again urged Congress to pass a funding bill. When asked if he would sign a measure that did not include money for immigration agencies, he said “ICE is vital to the wellbeing of our country” and bashed Democrats he accused of causing the shutdown.
The impasse over immigration has left TSA officers in limbo, with some quitting and others calling in sick or not showing up to work as they go without pay. About 500 have quit thus far, according to the DHS.
In turn, airport security lines have led to lengthy delays. Videos on social media of travellers snaked around buildings in massive queues have gone viral, and led to concerns about the nation’s ability to co-host the World Cup, which starts in June.
On Friday, more than 3,560 TSA officers called out of work, according to DHS, accounting for 12.35% of the agency’s total workforce.
