Arizona Politics

Abe Hamadeh Marks Day 31 of DHS Shutdown, Scorches Senate Democrats

Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) is marking Day 31 of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown on social media, blasting Senate Democrats for refusing to budge on reopening it.

"Day 31 of Democrats' reckless shutdown crippling @DHSgov operations," Rep. Hamadeh began before he pointed out that three attacks have been perpetrated by Islamists in the past week, referring to the attempted New York City bombing, the Old Dominion University shooting, and the foiled mass shooting of Temple Israel synagogue in Michigan, which he says are the result of the attackers "exploiting perceived weakness at home."

In addition to the terror attacks, Rep. Hamadeh notes that the shutdown of DHS means that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is also not operating, leaving airline travelers stuck in hours-long lines to get through airport security, and 300 staff have already quit, which he says are "ruining family vacations & endangering American lives."

"Gallego, Kelly, & the rest of Schumer's Democrats must stop playing politics with our national security NOW," the Arizona Congressman demanded.

Earlier in March, Hamadeh was just as vicious in another post condemning the shutdown, saying, "Every moment Mark Kelly, Ruben Gallego, and Schumer Democrats let DHS limp along without full funding, they're playing Russian roulette with American lives. Time to end this tantrum, stop the obstruction, and fully fund DHS to keep America safe."

The shutdown had begun in late February after Senate Democrats and the White House reached a stalemate over reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which were a response to the two fatal shootings of anti-ICE activists Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota in January.

In fact, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) have introduced the Respect for Local Communities Act, which prohibits DHS from constructing or operating any new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center or processing site without first jumping through a series of procedural hurdles.

Grayson Bakich

Grayson Bakich is a Florida and Arizona legislative correspondent for The Floridian and Cactus Politics, specializing in national and state-level politics. With three years' experience covering federal Florida, and Arizona politics, they have been cited by NewsBreak, SGT Report, Lucianne.com, and Cause Action. Email: grayson@dnm.news

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