Rep. Fitzgerald Votes to Fully Fund DHS, Back ICE and CBP, and Reject Democrats’ Open Borders Demands
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) issued the following statement after voting to pass the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7147 - Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026, legislation to end the Democrats’ reckless Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown and ensure all DHS security operations are funded.
“I want to make something abundantly clear: by passing this bill, my House Republican colleagues and I are reaffirming our unwavering commitment to border security and immigration enforcement. We are not the party of open borders. We do not prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. That’s the Democrats.
“Late last night, the Senate passed a bill that does NOT include a single dollar of funding for ICE and Border Patrol. The Senate did not consult the House before doing so. I wonder why?
“It is utterly irresponsible to vote for legislation that would undermine our national security. DHS must be fully funded, and that is exactly what the House bill delivers.
“This legislation provides funding to pay all DHS employees, including the hardworking TSA officers whose paychecks have been held hostage by the Democrats. TSA employees have now been forced to work without pay three times in six months due to these reckless shutdowns. It also provides funding for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, which Democrats allowed to run nearly dry despite the agency’s responsibility to respond to winter storms across the country.
“Let us all remember that this shutdown occurred because Democrats have made demonizing ICE and opposing the enforcement of our immigration laws their top priority. They will do anything to try and halt the successful border security operations and deportation efforts we have seen since President Trump returned to office.
“ICE agents put their lives on the line every day to protect this country. We will not fold to the Democrats on immigration enforcement. We were elected with a mandate to secure our borders, and we will continue fulfilling that promise.”
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