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Cornyn Blasts Democrats Over DHS Funding and Sanctuary Cities Amid Security Concerns
Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn has sharply criticized Democrats for what he describes as endangering American lives through support of sanctuary policies and allowing the Department of Homeland Security to remain unfunded during a period of heightened national security threats.
“This is just another manifestation of the sort of defund police mentality on the left,” Cornyn told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. The longtime senator’s comments come at a particularly sensitive moment, following what authorities describe as another attempted assassination targeting former President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday.
The Department of Homeland Security is currently experiencing the longest funding lapse in its history, a situation that Cornyn argues severely hampers its ability to respond to various threats facing the nation.
“We know there are dangerous people here,” Cornyn said. “People with criminal records and others who are a threat to public safety. And if there’s one job that is No. 1, non-negotiable, when it comes to our citizens, it’s public safety.”
Cornyn, who chairs the Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee and has served in the Senate since 2002, recently introduced the Sanctuary City Elimination Act. The legislation aims to ensure local police comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers by restricting federal funding to sanctuary cities.
The bill, cosponsored by several Republican senators including John Barrasso of Wyoming and Tim Scott of South Carolina, would bar sanctuary jurisdictions from receiving certain federal funds and grants for arts, education, environmental programs, and community development. It would also provide legal protection for local law enforcement officers who comply with ICE detainers by treating them as federal officers.
Cornyn specifically referenced the case of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, a U.S. citizen from Houston who was allegedly killed by two undocumented immigrants in 2024, as an example of the human cost of what he characterizes as lax immigration enforcement.
“Folks in Texas remember names like Jocelyn Nungaray and others who have been victims of the unlimited open borders immigration that the Biden administration allowed during his four years in office,” Cornyn stated.
The funding dispute over DHS comes amid broader political tensions surrounding immigration policy. The Houston City Council recently backed away from implementing a sanctuary-type policy after facing legal threats from state officials, a development Cornyn sees as evidence his approach can work nationally.
“This is a battleground that we should not shy away from,” he said, suggesting Republicans could potentially use budget reconciliation procedures to fund ICE and the Department of Homeland Security if conventional legislation stalls.
Cornyn is currently engaged in a contentious primary runoff with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is challenging the senator for his seat. While Paxton has secured endorsements from conservative organizations like Turning Point USA, Cornyn has been endorsed by the National Border Patrol Council. Former President Trump has not yet issued an endorsement in the race, which Texas voters will decide in late May.
The senator directly connected the weekend security incident at the Correspondents’ Dinner with the broader funding dispute, telling Fox News Digital, “Democrats cannot feign concern for President Trump’s life while also refusing to fund the very Department that houses Secret Service and other agencies sworn to protect him.”
Cornyn expressed confidence that the issue of public safety and immigration enforcement will resonate with voters in the upcoming midterm elections. “They don’t care about public safety. We do care about public safety,” he said, describing the contrast as one Republicans “may need to just take to the voters.”
“I hope that, finally, the events of this past weekend will serve as a wake-up call for Democrats to fund DHS,” Cornyn concluded.
Neither representatives for former President Biden nor Attorney General Paxton provided comments in response to media inquiries about Cornyn’s statements.
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12 Comments
Senator Cornyn raises valid concerns, but I worry this issue is being overly politicized. Shouldn’t we be able to have a thoughtful, evidence-based discussion about effective border security policies that respect civil liberties?
I agree, a more balanced, pragmatic approach would be preferable to the partisan rhetoric we often see on these sensitive topics.
As an investor in mining and energy equities, I’m curious how this funding dispute could affect government oversight and security for critical infrastructure in those sectors. Disruptions or vulnerabilities there could have significant economic impacts.
That’s a good point. The security of strategic resources and assets is vital for both national security and economic stability. This funding lapse could create worrying vulnerabilities worth monitoring closely.
While border security is important, I worry Senator Cornyn’s rhetoric is overly partisan and alarmist. We need a more balanced, evidence-based approach that respects civil liberties and finds common ground solutions, not divisive posturing.
I share your concern about the partisan tone. These complex issues deserve thoughtful, nuanced discussion, not political point-scoring.
As someone who follows mining and energy news closely, I’m curious how this funding lapse could impact the security of critical mineral supply chains. Could it leave us vulnerable to disruptions or foreign influence in that sector?
That’s an interesting angle I hadn’t considered. The security of strategic mineral resources is certainly crucial for national and economic security. This funding issue could have far-reaching implications worth exploring further.
As a mining and energy enthusiast, I’m curious to hear more about the potential impacts of this funding lapse on critical infrastructure security. Could it leave vulnerable assets like refineries or power plants exposed to threats?
That’s an insightful question. The security of our energy and resource supply chains is certainly a key national priority that could be affected by these political disputes.
This is a sensitive political issue that deserves thoughtful consideration. While border security is important, we must balance it with respect for human rights and due process. I hope both parties can find common ground to address this complex challenge constructively.
You raise a fair point. Finding the right balance between security and civil liberties is always challenging in these debates.