Congress Faces Deadline to Fund Homeland Security Amid Immigration Dispute

Congress is racing to prevent a partial U.S. government shutdown as funding for the Department of Homeland Security is set to expire this Friday. Lawmakers recently ended a brief shutdown by approving most of the federal budget, but DHS funding was only extended through February 13. Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries are demanding new policy measures for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including body cameras for agents, warrant requirements, and limits on masked operations. Republicans oppose tying policy conditions to funding, leaving negotiations at an impasse. Failure to reach an agreement could disrupt agencies such as TSA and FEMA, risking furloughs and interruptions to critical services.