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Government Shutdown Begins as Funding Lapses; Trump Defends Immigration Policies Amid Backlash
Washington, D.C. – A partial government shutdown commenced early Saturday after funding for numerous federal agencies lapsed at midnight, despite the Senate's passage of a bipartisan funding package late Friday, according to CBS News. The shutdown coincided with rising tensions surrounding immigration enforcement policies, prompting President Donald Trump to defend his administration's approach and key personnel.
The Senate's funding deal, which requires House approval, includes five long-term spending bills and a two-week extension for the Department of Homeland Security to allow further discussions on immigration enforcement reforms, CBS News reported. Democrats and the White House reached an agreement on Thursday after Democrats raised objections about funding for immigration agencies.
Meanwhile, President Trump used social media to support Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Border Czar Tom Homan, ABC News reported. Noem faced criticism following the deaths of Minneapolis residents Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were killed by federal agents last week. Trump thanked Homan for his efforts to ease tensions in Minneapolis, where he was dispatched this week.
In related news, a federal judge in Texas ordered the release of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, asylum seekers who were arrested last week in Minnesota, ABC News reported. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered their release from the immigration detention center at Dilley "as soon as practicable" but no later than Feb. 3, prohibiting their removal or transfer during detention.
In other developments, the Justice Department on Friday released a substantial collection of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein files, including 3 million documents and photos, CBS News reported. The files, accessible in "Data Set 9," "Data Set 10," "Data Set 11" and "Data Set 12" on the DOJ repository, contain photos, videos, court records, FBI and DOJ documents, news clippings and emails. Some files mention prominent figures, including President Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Elon Musk, none of whom have been tied to any wrongdoing. The release was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Adding to international concerns, satellite images revealed activity at Iranian nuclear sites previously bombed by Israel and the United States, CBS News reported. The images, captured by Planet Labs PBC, show roofs constructed over damaged buildings at the Isfahan and Natanz facilities. This activity may indicate efforts by Tehran to conceal salvage operations at the sites, particularly amid escalating tensions over Iran's crackdown on nationwide protests. The activity marks the first major satellite-detectable changes at the damaged nuclear sites since Israel's conflict with Iran in June.
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