Department of Homeland Security Shuts Down, but Immigration Crackdown Continues

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lapsed early over the weekend, triggering a shutdown that is not expected to immediately halt most of the agency’s operations but could disrupt travel, immigration enforcement and disaster response if prolonged, Madeleine Ngo reported for The New York Times.

The current shutdown stems from a partisan standoff in Congress over new limits on federal immigration enforcement.

Department officials said essential missions would continue. During last fall’s government shutdown, more than 90% of DHS employees were required to report for duty.

However, many will work without pay until funding is restored, raising concerns about financial strain.

In past shutdowns, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) experienced a spike in resignations as screeners were required to work without pay. Staffing shortages contributed to screening delays at airports in Houston during last fall’s record-long funding lapse.

The current shutdown stems from a partisan standoff in Congress over new limits on federal immigration enforcement.

Democrats have proposed guardrails requiring immigration officers to remove masks during operations and obtain judicial warrants before making arrests inside homes.

Republicans have largely resisted those proposals. The administration’s deportation campaign is expected to continue.

Todd Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), told lawmakers that enforcement operations would be mostly unaffected, largely due to billions of dollars in funding Congress approved for the agency last summer as part of a major tax package.

Still, Lyons said personnel issues — including pay and retention — could be impacted if the shutdown drags on.