Congress braces for extended DHS shutdown over impasse on ICE reforms

Published February 4, 2026 5:03pm ET



Congress is barreling toward a prolonged shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security as Democrats dig in on demands to restrain President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda that Republicans say are nonstarters.

Exacerbating tensions are the midterm elections, with both sides confident each is holding a winning hand for November: Senate Democrats could force the agency overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to shut down in protest, while Trump could continue deportation operations with money already provided by the GOP.

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