Trump Presses Democrats To Restore Homeland Security Funding

 WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Bernama-dpa) — US President Donald Trump called for an end to a funding impasse affecting the Department of Homeland Security, blaming Democrats in his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

Trump said he wants "full and immediate" restoration of financing for border security and internal security, adding: "We have no money because of the Democrats."

Homeland Security has gone 11 days without fresh funding after lawmakers failed to agree on a budget for the department, which also oversees immigration enforcement through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Democrats have resisted further funding unless tighter rules on ICE raids targeting migrants are agreed.

Trump's crackdown on immigrants carried out by ICE has provoked massive protests against raids in many cities, including Minneapolis in Minnesota, where two US citizens were killed in January.

Funding for other federal departments and agencies has been secured. Large parts of the government previously shut down twice during Trump's second term when lawmakers failed to pass spending Bills.

— BERNAMA-DPA