Congressman Greg Murphy Condemns Democrats’ Shutdown Strategy as ‘Political Firestorm’

Rep. Greg Murphy, a Republican representing North Carolina, said on Monday that a potential government shutdown is being driven by partisan politics rather than public safety.

Murphy stated that Democrats are using immigration agencies as leverage while essential operations would continue. The Department of Homeland Security funding fight centers on a looming government shutdown as lawmakers clash over border security policy.

Republicans are pressing for tougher immigration enforcement provisions, while Democrats seek to pass a clean or minimally altered funding bill, leaving various federal agencies caught in the middle of a broader political standoff ahead of the funding deadline.

When asked about Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his argument that Democrats are making “commonsense” proposals to avoid a shutdown, Murphy said, “There’s been nothing common sense about Chuck Schumer during his leadership reign.”

He argued that the broader debate over border security and immigration enforcement has been distorted by political messaging and media coverage.

“But sadly enough, our mainstream media, which has literally joined the Democratic Party in trying to literally block everything that Trump has been doing, continues to flame the fuel, the fires, rather in what’s going on,” Murphy said.

Murphy pointed to crimes committed by people who entered the country illegally as an issue he said receives insufficient attention in the shutdown debate.

“Is it OK that over 14 to 1,700 Americans have been killed or raped or otherwise injured by folks who have come into the country illegally?” Murphy asked.

“That never gets covered,” he added. “But now, instead, sadly enough, things are focused on a few of the tragedies.”

Murphy said immigration enforcement should be carried out firmly but lawfully, while criticizing what he described as media-driven division.

“We need to get these people out of the country,” Murphy said. “We need to do it in the right way.”

“But fanning the flames is what mainstream media does best, and this is what’s really, really hurt our efforts to reestablish law in the country,” he said.

The congressman questioned the strategy of tying immigration enforcement funding to broader political fights.

“So what is the point of using ICE as leverage and putting a financial strain on families when these families of these TSA agents have nothing to do with this fight?” Murphy asked.

Murphy said the standoff reflects internal Democratic Party dynamics rather than a substantive policy disagreement.

“It’s all about politics. It is all about bending to the far left wing of the party, which is what Jeffries is doing now because he has a primary,” he said, referring to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

He also accused Schumer of acting out of political fear.

“It’s what Schumer has been doing all along because he’s afraid of a bartender in New York,” Murphy stated.

Murphy urged voters to consider what he described as the alternative to Republican leadership on border security.

“You have to look at what the alternative is,” he said.

He concluded that the shutdown fight reflects deeper divisions he believes are harming the country.

“They focus on the things that divide us,” Murphy added. “And this is what’s bad for America.”