Four suspected terror attacks have taken place in the United States since the Department of Homeland Security was defunded in a partial government shutdown last month, including one in Michigan where Fox News Digital reached out to all major Senate candidates about their position on DHS funding.
The attacks occurred in Virginia, Michigan, Texas and New York City. In Virginia, a former Army National Guard soldier convicted of supporting ISIS opened fire inside Old Dominion University, killing an ROTC instructor and injuring two others. In Michigan, a suspect allegedly rammed his vehicle into Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield and opened fire on security guards before being shot dead. In Texas, a Senegal-born suspect killed three people outside a bar wearing a shirt referencing Allah. In New York City, two suspects were arrested after allegedly throwing improvised explosive devices near Gracie Mansion during a protest.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican Mike Rogers, former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, says he would be a 'Yes' vote to reopen DHS and told Fox News Digital in an interview that 'we needed all hands on deck' when the United States engaged in military action against Iran and that 'a life might depend on it.'
Rogers said: 'This was an opportunity to have our law enforcement officers from immigration, from making sure that the Coast Guard's up, the TSA is getting paid. This was an opportunity to stand up for America.' He added: 'It's crazy to me that the Democrats just turned their back on safety and security of American citizens. They just turned their backs for some political purpose that they think is going to gain them votes in the fall. I'm disgusted by it. This is no time to play politics with people's safety, and they're doing it.'
What the Left Is Saying
Senate Democrats have voted four times over the past month to block Homeland Security funding because the bills include funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection. Democrats say reforms are needed at those two DHS agencies following the fatal shootings earlier this year by federal immigration agents of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota who were protesting the Trump administration's immigration enforcement actions.
Progressive Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, endorsed by Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, did not specify how he would vote on DHS funding but told Fox News Digital that 'if the Trump administration were serious about keeping Americans safe from terror, they would not be funding ICE at a level higher than the FBI, cutting counterterrorism funding, or keeping the FBI from informing local law enforcement about terror threats that emerge from their illegal and unjustified war.' El-Sayed added: 'Let's not confuse issues.'
Two incumbent Democrats, Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters, currently represent Michigan in the Senate and have both voiced opposition to reopening DHS. The other two top Democrats in the August 4 primary race, Mallory McMorrow and Haley Stevens, did not respond to requests for comment.
What the Numbers Show
The Department of Homeland Security has been partially defunded for one month. Senate Democrats have blocked Homeland Security funding four times during this period. There have been four suspected terror attacks in the United States since the partial government shutdown began: one at Old Dominion University in Virginia, one at Temple Israel in Michigan, one outside a bar in Austin, Texas, and one near Gracie Mansion in New York City.
The Michigan Senate race features three major Democratic primary candidates competing to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters, with the August 4 primary approaching.
The Bottom Line
The suspected terror attacks have intensified debate over DHS funding as Michigan's Senate race remains competitive. Republicans argue Democrats are prioritizing politics over security, while Democrats say they cannot support funding ICE and CBP without reforms following the fatal shootings in Minnesota. The division reflects broader disagreements over immigration enforcement that have characterized the funding debate in Congress. Voters in Michigan and other swing states may weigh these positions as they consider candidates in the upcoming election.