The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has partially shut down after Congress failed to reach agreement on immigration enforcement changes, deepening a political standoff between the White House and Senate Democrats.
Funding expired at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday (14 February) after lawmakers left Washington without a compromise.
Congress is not scheduled to return until 23 February, although leaders say members could be recalled if a deal is reached earlier.
Most DHS employees, including staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard, are expected to continue working because their roles are considered critical. However, they will not receive pay during the funding lapse.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, which are at the center of the political dispute, are largely shielded from disruption.
Both agencies still have access to $75 billion approved last year under President Donald Trump’s domestic policy package, allowing operations and pay to continue.
Earlier this week, Senate Republicans failed to advance legislation to fund DHS for the remainder of the fiscal year, falling short of the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster.
A separate attempt to pass a two-week stopgap measure was blocked by Democrats, who have made clear they will not support another short-term extension without enforcement reforms.
Democrats have outlined a list of proposed changes, including requiring federal agents to display identification, obtain judicial warrants before entering private property and stop wearing face coverings during operations.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats are prepared to fund DHS but insist on what he described as “serious guardrails” to rein in enforcement practices. He argued the administration’s latest proposal does not go far enough.
A senior White House official said Democrats had rejected the administration’s most recent counterproposal. While expressing willingness to negotiate, the official said the administration would not accept limits that undermine the president’s authority on border security.
Republicans have stressed that immigration enforcement will continue despite the shutdown. House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole said ICE and Border Patrol remain fully funded and accused Democrats of prolonging the standoff for political reasons.
The administration has pointed to steps taken after the Minnesota incident, including leadership changes in the region and the deployment of body cameras for immigration officers. Enforcement operations in Minnesota have since been scaled back.
Unlike last year’s 43-day government-wide shutdown, the current lapse affects only DHS, as other agencies are funded through September. However, Senate rules requiring 60 votes to pass funding legislation mean bipartisan support is necessary.
A new national poll shows public approval of the president’s handling of immigration has declined in recent months, adding further pressure as negotiations continue.
For now, DHS remains partially closed, with no clear timeline for resolution.
A prominent Ugandan lawyer representing detained opposition figure Kizza Besigye has been charged with a treason-related offence, days after his arres...
The U.S. Treasury did not publish an extension of its sanctions waiver for Russian seaborne oil before it expired at midnight on Wednesday, raising qu...
The European Parliament approved an overhaul of the European Union's migration policy on Wednesday, paving the way for faster deportations and allowin...
The U.S. and Iran released the text of an interim agreement their presidents have signed to end their war on Wednesday, with U.S. President Donald Tru...
Millions of people across 13 countries are expected to face worsening food insecurity between June and November 2026, according to a new report from t...
A prominent Ugandan lawyer representing detained opposition figure Kizza Besigye has been charged with a treason-related offence, days after his arrest by security forces.
The U.S. Treasury did not publish an extension of its sanctions waiver for Russian seaborne oil before it expired at midnight on Wednesday, raising questions over whether Washington is preparing to reimpose restrictions on Russian energy exports.
The European Parliament approved an overhaul of the European Union's migration policy on Wednesday, paving the way for faster deportations and allowing member states to establish detention centres outside the bloc.
Millions of people across 13 countries are expected to face worsening food insecurity between June and November 2026, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Donald Trump has said the U.S. will resume bombing Iran if Tehran doesn't "behave," at the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. Earlier, the U.S. President criticised Israel for its tactics against Hezbollah, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to tackle militants.
A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island early Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring four, according to emergency authorities.
U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details have yet to be made public and both countries said a permanent truce is yet to be negotiated.
Australia's weather bureau warned on Tuesday that an El Niño weather pattern has formed in the tropical Pacific and could intensify in the second half of 2026, becoming one of the strongest events recorded in seven decades.
Pakistan's heavy reliance on imported energy was laid bare by the U.S.-Iran conflict, which disrupted regional supplies, drove up costs and exposed vulnerabilities in the country's energy security. However, a proposed peace agreement now offers hope for economic relief.
UN Women chief Sima Bahous warned the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday that peace processes are more fragile and less effective when women are excluded from decision-making, as global conflict levels reach their highest point since the UN was founded.
Millions of people across 13 countries are expected to face worsening food insecurity between June and November 2026, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
The U.S. Treasury did not publish an extension of its sanctions waiver for Russian seaborne oil before it expired at midnight on Wednesday, raising questions over whether Washington is preparing to reimpose restrictions on Russian energy exports.
A prominent Ugandan lawyer representing detained opposition figure Kizza Besigye has been charged with a treason-related offence, days after his arrest by security forces.
The European Parliament approved an overhaul of the European Union's migration policy on Wednesday, paving the way for faster deportations and allowing member states to establish detention centres outside the bloc.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment