DHS Shutdown Drags Into New Week. Where Things Stand The U.S. Department of Homeland Security remains partially shut down as another Monday passes, with Congress still deadlocked over funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. The shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, has become the longest funding lapse ever recorded for a single federal department. The impasse follows the killings of two Minnesotans by federal officers in January, which intensified debates over immigration enforcement policies. Last week, Senate Republicans approved a federal budget blueprint allowing “not more than $70 billion” to fund ICE and Border Patrol. The legislation passed in a 50-48 vote, despite bipartisan opposition from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who joined Democrats in voting against it. The GOP’s approval of the measure cleared a key hurdle toward fully funding DHS again. However, Democrats have expressed support for funding DHS but oppose funding ICE and Border Patrol without additional oversight. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., criticized the vote on social media, calling it “a bad night for the rule of law.” Tensions escalated further after shots were fired at the White House Press Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25. Some lawmakers cited the incident as a reason to fully fund DHS. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., urged his Democratic colleagues to support full funding for the agency, stating, “It is long past time to fully fund DHS, as the threats against our country are growing exponentially.” The House is set to convene on Monday, April 27, with no legislation related to the DHS shutdown on the agenda. The Senate is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. that day.#chuck_schumer #border_patrol #senate_republicans #immigration_and_customs_enforcement #us_department_of_homeland_security
