The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) entered a budget shutdown at midnight on Friday (local time) after the two-week extension granted by Democrats expired. Democrats want to implement changes at the Department following the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
The DHS shutdown will result in the suspension of pay for thousands of employees and other funds, such as disaster relief payments. ICE, however, will be able to continue operating thanks to the federal agency’s budget allocation provided by the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a law passed last June that included significant tax cuts and increased military spending and immigration enforcement.
“Given that it is now clear that Congress will not complete its work before the expiration of these appropriations, the Department of Homeland Security must now implement plans for an orderly shutdown. Employees should report to work for their next regular shift to carry out the activities of the orderly shutdown,” White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought said in a statement.
The DHS was left out of the agreement between Democrats and Republicans to resolve the partial government shutdown at the end of January, which lasted only a few days, due to Democrats’ reluctance to provide funding to the department that oversees ICE following the deaths of two people during ICE operations in Minnesota last month.
Now, Democratic representatives are demanding universal standards for the use of force by these agents, regulations for the use of body cameras on their uniforms, and a ban on the use of masks to conceal their identity.
They are also demanding an end to ICE patrols and that agents be required to obtain a search warrant before entering a suspect’s home.
“DHS and this administration cannot be trusted to conduct investigations on their own. And that’s why Democrats are fighting to rein in ICE,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
