Partial DHS shutdown begins as Congress fails to reach immigration deal

The Department of Homeland Security became the sole federal agency operating without funding Saturday as Congress failed to pass a spending bill before the midnight Friday deadline, triggering a partial shutdown. The lapse follows weeks of contentious negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over proposed reforms to immigration enforcement practices, particularly concerning Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection operations.

Democratic Demands and Republican Opposition

Democrats have insisted on enhanced oversight measures as conditions for supporting the funding bill, including requiring officers to wear visible identification, mandating body cameras remain activated, and prohibiting the use of masks during operations. These stipulations follow the January killings of two Americans by ICE agents in Minnesota, which intensified scrutiny of enforcement tactics. Republicans have dismissed the Democratic conditions as "unreasonable," leading to the Senate's failure to advance a funding measure Thursday. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries reiterated the Democratic position Friday, declaring: "ICE needs to be dramatically reformed. Period. Full stop."

Operational Impact and Path Forward

The shutdown affects DHS components including the Secret Service and FEMA, with essential workers facing unpaid labor and others furloughed. However, ICE and CBP operations may experience minimal disruption due to funding continuity through President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year. Trump defended law enforcement agencies, characterizing Democrats as "radical left lunatics" whose cities remain unsafe. Negotiations are expected to resume, though no timeline for a vote has been established. The DHS funding gap now extends through the remainder of fiscal year 2026 while other federal agencies have secured appropriations since November's record-long shutdown concluded.