As Nashville, Tennessee, ushered in the New Year, a 16-year-old girl lay asleep, savoring the final moments of her holiday break. However, her peaceful morning was shattered when a 31-year-old man, notorious in the community for his criminal behavior, stealthily entered her apartment through an unlocked door.
The teenager awoke to the terrifying sensation of a gun pressed against her waist and the cold gaze of an intruder. Despite her attempts to break free, the man intensified his grip, using the weapon to assert his control. In this harrowing moment, the girl begged for mercy, promising silence if he would leave. Unmoved, the perpetrator continued the assault and fled before dawn’s light could reveal his crime.
This chilling incident unfolded in Tennessee, implicating an Egyptian national with a history of violence in Nashville. Thanks to the efforts of President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this individual was apprehended, ensuring he could no longer threaten American communities.
In response, Democrats have been criticized for not acknowledging such incidents, instead targeting the dedication of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Struggling to challenge President Trump at the polls, they are accused of attempting to dismantle DHS, seeking the removal of Secretary Kristi Noem, and leveraging demands that could jeopardize national security.
President Trump said it best in his 2026 State of the Union: “The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” That principle lies at the heart of the oath of office, yet Democrats refused to stand up for the victims of alien crime present in the chamber.
Currently, DHS plays a critical role in national safety and response. The department’s elimination would also mean the loss of key agencies such as the Coast Guard, FEMA, CISA, and TSA, leaving significant gaps in emergency and security operations.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) talks to reporters during a press conference on Capital Hill on March 5, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
With Tennessee experiencing some of its harshest ice storms, FEMA’s support is indispensable. Under the leadership of President Trump and Kristi Noem, FEMA has expedited millions in disaster relief to the state, a swift response compared to past delays during crises like Hurricane Helene. Whether through deporting dangerous individuals or providing urgent disaster aid, DHS is steadfast in its mission to protect and serve Americans.
The current Democrat shutdown of DHS is also crippling Coast Guard operations. Just last year, the Coast Guard seized over 500,000 pounds of illegal drugs, saving tens of millions of lives. They stopped over ten thousand illegals from coming into the country in the same time frame. Each year, they save thousands of Americans through their search-and-rescue program. They are the definition of an essential service.
We are currently in a cyber war with multiple hostile actors all over the world: the Chinese, the Russians, the North Koreans, and the Iranians, just to name a few. CISA exists to protect America’s digital frontier from these enemies. CISA is housed and funded by DHS. The Chinese in particular are escalating rapidly in their cyber offensives. This means your cell phones, appliances, and vehicles are just one hack away from being used against you.
Just last month, the Chinese cyber terror group Salt Typhoon hacked Congress in an attempt to steal sensitive emails. Last year, CCP-backed hackers breached the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Commerce. They were also able to gain access to Microsoft’s SharePoint Server program, jeopardizing the safety of thousands of Americans. CISA is more important than ever as we attempt to gain the upper hand over these hostile actors. A shutdown of this agency threatens Americans.
Demonstratively, DHS has wielded Homeland Security Investigations to stop Middle Eastern terror threats coming across our borders. An Uzbek national named Akhror Bozoro illegally crossed the border in 2023, received work authorization and a commercial driver’s license, and was later arrested by ICE for ties to a jihadi group and recruiting terrorists online. Afghan national Jaan Shah Safi entered in 2021 and was found arranging weapons shipments for ISIS, before ICE arrested him last December. Shutting down DHS is making it easier for terrorists to embed in our society.
If DHS remains shut down, Americans would continue being assaulted by illegal aliens, drugs would flood through our southern border, and disasters would wreak havoc with no federal relief. Our nation, as we know it, would collapse. It is critical for Republicans hold the line and defend our homeland.
Andy Ogles has proudly served Tennessee’s 5th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
