Jonathan Karl Confronts Chris Van Hollen Over ‘Holding Up’ DHS Funding

ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl pressed Democratic Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen on Sunday over his party’s role in the ongoing partial government shutdown leaving the Department of Homeland Security largely without funding.

Democrats have voted against funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as part of their opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They are demanding new operational restrictions following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good in January. Karl suggested on “This Week” that Democrats’ refusal to fund DHS was causing unnecessary disruptions since ICE is partially funded.

WATCH:

“I guess what’s confusing here is you have fought and blocked the funding for the Department of Homeland Security because you object, as you just outlined to what ICE has been doing, and you wanted to force changes,” Karl said. “And yet, the only thing that has been assured throughout all of this is that ICE already has the money, because as you said, $75 billion passed in the budget bill last year. So you’re holding up the entirety of the Department of Homeland Security because you object to ICE and you want changes to ICE. But through it all, ICE continues to have the money it needs.”

Van Hollen disputed Karl’s comments, calling it “a false statement” that his party was “holding up all of the money” for DHS. He asserted his party has continuously advocated for funding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Coast Guard.