DHS Faces Crisis: Agents Lied, Shutdown Looms

DHS Faces Shutdown Amidst Immigration Enforcement Standoff, Agents Accused of Lying

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was on the brink of a shutdown as of Saturday, with no clear resolution in sight, due to an ongoing impasse between the White House and congressional Democrats regarding immigration enforcement reforms. This marks the third funding lapse of the current Congress and the second in less than six months, according to Time. Simultaneously, the department is grappling with accusations that immigration agents lied about a recent shooting in Minneapolis.

The standoff centers on Democrats' demands for new restrictions on agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), following the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in January, as reported by Time. Democrats have refused to pass an annual DHS funding bill without these reforms, citing concerns over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

Adding to the department's challenges, a spokesperson for DHS announced Friday that two federal immigration agents involved in the shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis last month appeared to have lied about the incident. A joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice, based on video evidence, revealed that the agents' sworn testimony contained "untruthful statements," according to NPR News. The agents have been placed on administrative leave.

Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a Democrat, broke with his party and voted to advance a yearlong spending bill for DHS that did not include the requested reforms, according to Time. Fetterman warned that declining to fund DHS would impact other agencies housed under the department.

The potential shutdown, set to begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, is a result of the divided government, which has led to increasingly frequent funding lapses. Lawmakers left Washington for a scheduled recess, leaving the situation unresolved.