The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shut down on Friday, February 13, 2026, after lawmakers failed to agree on funding for the agency, impacting over 260,000 employees. The shutdown occurred after a midnight deadline passed, as Congress left for a week-long recess without resolving disputes over federal immigration enforcement, according to NPR News.
The impasse arose from disagreements over restrictions on federal immigration enforcement, particularly concerning the conduct of immigration officers. Democrats sought new limitations in response to incidents, including the shooting deaths of two U.S. citizens by immigration officers in Minneapolis, according to Source 1. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, however, broke with his party to vote in favor of advancing a year-long spending bill for DHS that did not include these reforms, warning that a shutdown would impact agencies housed under the department without affecting ICE functionality, according to Time.
The shutdown comes amid broader political tensions, including President Donald Trump's ongoing efforts, according to Vox. The situation also highlights the complexities of immigration policy and enforcement.
In related news, a photograph of a child being detained by ICE agents in Minneapolis went viral. On January 20, Ali Daniels, a legal observer, witnessed ICE agents detaining Liam Conejo Ramos, a child wearing a Spider-Man backpack and a blue bunny hat, according to Time.
Meanwhile, a study published on February 13, 2026, in Nature suggests that moderate caffeine intake might reduce dementia risk and slow brain aging, according to Nature News. The study examined data from 130,000 people.
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