Why ICE agents won't stop even if DHS shuts down
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Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in Brownsville, Texas, in January. Photo: Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images
A partial government shutdown is looming as a Department of Homeland Security congressional funding fight over Immigration and Customs Enforcement reforms shows no signs of abating by the Friday night deadline.
The big picture: Democratic leaders are demanding reforms to ICE, but the agency is set to be among the least affected by a potential DHS partial shutdown that would disrupt air travel, disaster response and cyber monitoring.
Driving the news: The congressional funding clash escalated following the January federal law enforcement shootings of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis amid an immigration crackdown that Trump administration officials declared finally over on Thursday — on the eve of the shutdown deadline.
- Congress voted to pass a bill earlier this month to keep the government open through September and keep DHS funded until Feb. 13
- Democratic leaders have outlined 10 ICE reform demands, including barring ICE agents from donning masks and requiring that they wear body cameras. But they said Thursday they're no closer to a deal with Republicans to avert a shutdown.
State of play: ICE employs some 22,000 workers and Customs and Border Protection has more than 60,000 employees and their many staff are considered essential.
- So they're legally required to work without pay until funding resumes and they'd get back-pay.
Yes. but: President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act that passed last year ensures that funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection will continue despite the shutdown, enabling the agencies to continue with immigration enforcement action.
What they're saying: A DHS spokesperson told Axios Thursday evening the agency's "essential missions and functions will continue," as they have done in every previous shutdown.
- "However, during a shutdown, many employees will be forced to work without pay, putting strain on the frontline defenders of our nation," the spokesperson added in the emailed statement.
Go deeper: How the upcoming DHS shutdown may affect you
