A partial government shutdown centered on the Department of Homeland Security began Saturday after Congress failed to pass a funding bill, impacting various agencies and highlighting ongoing disputes over immigration enforcement policies. The shutdown, the second in recent weeks, stemmed from disagreements between Democrats and the White House regarding restraints on federal immigration agents, according to CBS News.
The impasse specifically revolved around the conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which have faced increased scrutiny. Democrats sought to implement a "masks off, body cameras on" policy for federal agents, new use-of-force standards, better identification of DHS officers, and a requirement for judicial warrants before entering private property, according to CBS News. They also pushed for an end to detaining people without verifying their U.S. citizenship.
The shutdown affects agencies under DHS's umbrella, including the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, CBS News reported.
Adding to the complexities surrounding DHS, ICE announced that two of its officers may have lied under oath about a shooting incident in Minnesota. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons stated that a joint review by ICE and the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed "untruthful statements" in sworn testimony provided by the officers, according to ABC News. Both officers were placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
Meanwhile, House Democrats are demanding the Department of Justice cease tracking lawmakers' review of unredacted files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Representatives Jamie Raskin, Pramila Jayapal, and Robert Garcia sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the DOJ to develop a new protocol to allow members to meaningfully review the documents, ABC News reported. Jayapal accused Bondi of "spying" on her search history when she visited the DOJ earlier in the week.
In other news, the search for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, continues after she was reportedly kidnapped from her Tucson, Arizona, home on February 1, according to ABC News. The FBI released photos and videos of an armed person in a mask near her home, and the search is intensifying.
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