Congress has approved a short-term funding measure for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), narrowly avoiding a partial government shutdown that was scheduled to take effect at midnight earlier this week.
The stopgap bill, which keeps DHS funded through mid-March, cleared the House after an intense and closely divided voting process. Lawmakers first advanced the legislation by a single vote margin before passing it outright later the same day. The Senate had already approved the measure, and President Davis signed it into law late Monday evening.
Beyond maintaining agency funding, the legislation introduces notable changes to immigration enforcement policy. Under provisions added during negotiations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is barred from using DHS funds to conduct enforcement actions outside of correctional facilities. For the duration of the funding period, ICE operations are limited to prisons and jails, effectively suspending street-level arrests, home detentions, and workplace enforcement activities.
Lawmakers supporting the bill argued that the restrictions reflect a shift toward prioritizing targeted enforcement while avoiding broader community disruption. Opponents criticized the measure, saying it limits the agency’s operational flexibility during a time of heightened immigration debate.
Had the funding measure failed, DHS would have faced a partial shutdown. Essential workers, including Border Patrol agents and Coast Guard personnel, would have been required to continue working without pay, while thousands of non-essential employees could have been furloughed. Agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency were expected to face staffing and operational challenges.
The funding debate also carried regional significance for Minnesota. Minneapolis, which is preparing to host the 2026 World Expo, relies heavily on federal coordination for security and infrastructure planning. State and local officials had expressed concern that a DHS shutdown could disrupt preparations for the international event, potentially affecting safety logistics and federal support timelines.
With the bill now enacted, DHS operations will continue uninterrupted through March. Federal agencies can proceed with planning and security coordination for upcoming national and international events, while ICE operates under the newly defined enforcement boundaries set by the legislation.
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