The White House reaffirmed its position that the entire Department of Homeland Security budget must pass, after a Department of Homeland Security shutdown caused chaos at airports across the United States.
On the 29th (local time), Tom Homan, the White House's top official for border protection and immigration enforcement, known as the "border czar," said, "President Donald Trump wants funding for the entire Department of Homeland Security."
Earlier, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Department of Homeland Security budget, but a shutdown occurred after House Republicans argued that the budget must also include funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
It said the budget process is being delayed by partisan conflict over immigration enforcement policy reforms after two U.S. citizens were killed in January in Minnesota when agents opened fire during ICE immigration enforcement and a protest.
As a result, pay for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, who handle airport security screening, has been halted, and as employees leave their posts on sick leave or resign, unusual scenes of wait times stretching for hours are unfolding at major U.S. airports.
Trump has reportedly ordered the Minister of the Department of Homeland Security and the Director General of the White House Office of Management and Budget to use other related funds to pay TSA employees.
Targeting Democrats calling for changes to ICE policy, Homan demanded an end to the demonization of ICE.
He said, "The laws ICE follows today regarding immigration enforcement are the same laws that existed during the Clinton and Obama eras," adding, "They are trying to block the work ICE does itself."
Homan went on to claim, "As criticism in Congress has continued, threats against ICE agents have increased by 8,000%," urging, "Stop calling ICE Nazis or racists."