WASHINGTON—House Republican Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) released the following statement after Democrats voted to keep the Department of Homeland Security shut down in the middle of an international conflict with Iran, the world’s leading state sponsor of terror:

“Democrats just voted to put violent illegal aliens ahead of the safety of the American people. That is undeniably reckless,” Chairwoman McClain said. “After September 11, we created a department dedicated to stopping terrorists before they strike our homeland. At this moment in history, Democrats have chosen to shut it down for political theater. You don’t play games with America’s security. It’s time for Democrats to drop the politics, fully fund our homeland security and start putting the safety of the American people first.”