Budget impasse shuts down US Department of Homeland Security, but ICE remains operational

The Department of Homeland Security enters a partial shutdown as US lawmakers fight over funding the agency overseeing much of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Thousands of government workers, from airport security agents to disaster relief officials, will either be furloughed or forced to work without pay until funding is agreed upon by Congress.

At the center of the budget dispute is the department’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whose agents killed two US citizens amid sweeping raids and mass protests in Minneapolis.

Democrats oppose any new funding for DHS until major changes are implemented over how ICE conducts its operations.

In particular, they have demanded curtailed patrols, a ban on ICE agents wearing face masks during operations and the requirement that they obtain a judicial warrant to enter private property.

“Donald Trump and Republicans have decided that they have zero interest in getting ICE under control,” says House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

“Dramatic changes are needed,” Jeffries tells a news conference. “Absent that, Republicans have decided to shut down parts of the federal government.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt puts the blame on the opposition, telling Fox News that “Democrats are barreling our government towards another shutdown for political and partisan reasons.”

But while DHS faces a shutdown, ICE itself will remain operational, under funds approved in last year’s government spending bill.