The Senate met on Sunday, but lawmakers showed no sign of bridging their differences over funding for the Department of Homeland Security as the partial government shutdown moved into its 37th day. Democrats and Republicans continued to trade blame, and the dispute appears to be intensifying rather than easing.
President Trump took to social media to attack Democrats, calling them “lunatics” and “unreasonable” after they rejected a funding proposal. Meanwhile, administration officials say they are preparing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel for possible deployment to airports to help Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations as staffing shortfalls worsen.
Border czar Tom Homan said plans to send ICE agents to airports are being finalized, and that the agency would assist with moving lines and keeping terminals open if deployed. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, warn that assigning untrained immigration agents to security roles at airports could create safety and operational risks.
A recent poll cited in coverage of the standoff found that a majority of Americans favor scaling back ICE operations, and many respondents questioned whether either party’s stance justifies the ongoing shutdown. The story was reported by Cristian Benavides, who was traveling with the president, and the broadcast segment was anchored by Jericka Duncan.