WASHINGTON — Florida U.S. Rep. Randy High-quality requested Tuesday that his congressional wage be withheld as a partial authorities shutdown continues, whereas concurrently calling for an escalation of immigration enforcement on the nation’s airports.
In a proper letter to Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor, the Republican lawmaker characterised the continuing funding lapse as a “Democrat shutdown” and argued it’s “blatantly unfair” for lawmakers to obtain paychecks whereas frontline safety personnel don’t.
“It’s unacceptable that members of Congress proceed to receives a commission whereas our Coast Guard and TSA brokers aren’t,” High-quality mentioned. “Democrats are holding this nation hostage to guard overseas invaders.”
The shutdown, which has frozen pay for the Division of Homeland Safety, or DHS, comes throughout what High-quality described as a interval of heightened nationwide safety danger. He particularly cited ongoing conflicts with Iran and the potential for home “sleeper cells” as the explanation why the shortage of pay for the Coast Guard, TSA, and Customs and Border Safety, or CBP, is “reckless and irresponsible.”
It’s unacceptable that members of Congress proceed to receives a commission whereas our Coast Guard and TSA brokers aren’t.
That’s why I’m sending a letter at present to the Chief Administrative Officer telling her to withhold my pay till the Democrat shutdown is resolved.
Members shouldn’t be… pic.twitter.com/XTjktbM1jC
— Congressman Randy High-quality (@RepFine) March 25, 2026
High-quality’s push for fiscal accountability coincided with an look on “High-quality Level with Chanel Rion,” the place the Florida Republican advocated for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, to take care of a everlasting, aggressive presence in American airports to facilitate deportations.
“I hope ICE stays in our airports,” High-quality mentioned in the course of the interview. “Unlawful immigrants must be rounded up and deported wherever they’re. There must be no sanctuary places.”
High-quality argued that the presence of federal brokers ought to function a last checkpoint for these within the nation illegally. He recommended that whereas brokers mustn’t intervene with these boarding “one-way flights dwelling,” they need to instantly detain people trying to journey additional into the inside of the US.
“When you’re on this nation illegally and also you select to not go away, try to be discovered and try to be despatched dwelling, with out exception,” High-quality mentioned.
The congressman additionally linked the present political stalemate to the “SAVE AMERICA Act,” alleging that Democrats are resisting each the funding invoice and stricter voter eligibility legal guidelines as a result of they “can now not win elections based mostly on People.”
I hope ICE stays in our airports.
Unlawful immigrants must be rounded up and deported wherever they’re, even in our airports.
ICE received’t get in the best way of unlawful immigrants within the airport if they’re boarding their one-way flight dwelling. pic.twitter.com/6e0reURQJn
— Congressman Randy High-quality (@RepFine) March 26, 2026
