A prolonged standoff in the U.S. Congress over immigration enforcement funding is set to trigger a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as lawmakers remain divided over the future of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Unless an agreement is reached before midnight Friday, portions of DHS will face a lapse in funding beginning Saturday. The impasse follows mounting political tensions after two fatal shootings in Minneapolis in January, in which U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti were shot and killed by federal agents during protests against immigration operations.
“For weeks, we’ve been pushing commonsense reforms,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Republican-controlled Senate, ahead of the funding deadline. He said Democrats would not support what he described as unchecked enforcement authority.
The White House, however, placed responsibility for the looming shutdown on Democrats. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that “Democrats are barreling our government towards another shutdown for political and partisan reasons.”
Democrats have said they will oppose any new DHS funding unless major changes are implemented in the way U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts operations. Their demands include scaling back patrols, banning ICE agents from wearing facemasks during enforcement actions, and requiring judicial warrants before entering private property.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed those concerns, stating that ICE was “completely and totally out of control.” He argued that federal funds should not be used in ways that harm civilians and criticized what he described as aggressive tactics during immigration operations.
In the Senate, even if all 53 Republicans support the DHS funding bill, procedural rules require at least 60 votes to advance legislation, meaning several Democrats would need to cross party lines. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called the administration’s offer to negotiate “an extremely serious” one but acknowledged that Democrats would not receive their full list of demands. Democratic Senator Patty Murray responded that partial concessions would not be sufficient, describing her party’s proposals as necessary safeguards.
The White House has said it remains open to talks. Leavitt noted that administration officials have been engaged in discussions with Democratic lawmakers over immigration enforcement policy.
If funding lapses, thousands of federal employees could be furloughed, while others would be required to work without pay until Congress passes a budget agreement. ICE operations would continue using funds previously approved by Congress, limiting immediate disruption to immigration enforcement.
The broader impact would fall on other DHS agencies. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which coordinates disaster response, could face staffing and operational constraints. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA), responsible for airport security, warned that a prolonged shutdown could result in longer wait times and potential flight disruptions.
If it proceeds, the shutdown would mark the third funding lapse during President Donald Trump’s second term, following a record 43-day government closure last October and November. Lawmakers on both sides face increasing pressure to reach a compromise before the disruption spreads across key homeland security functions.