Lawmakers Clash Over DHS Oversight as Partial Government Shutdown Continues

Democrats demand changes to immigration enforcement, Republicans refuse to back down

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The partial government shutdown enters another day with Democrats refusing to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) until they agree on changes to immigration enforcement. Lawmakers and the White House are offering no signs of compromise in their battle over oversight of federal immigration officers, with Democrats demanding reforms like requiring officers to identify themselves and wear body cameras, while Republicans argue these measures would endanger officers and obstruct their ability to do their jobs.

Why it matters

The standoff over DHS funding highlights the deep partisan divide over immigration policy, with the Trump administration pushing for aggressive enforcement and Democrats seeking more oversight and accountability. The shutdown is disrupting the operations of several key federal agencies, raising concerns about public safety and national security.

The details

The partial government shutdown began on Saturday after Congress failed to reach a deal on funding the DHS through September. Democrats are demanding changes to how immigration operations are conducted after the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal officers last month. Republicans are refusing to agree to the Democrats' proposals, arguing they would put officers at risk and hinder enforcement efforts.

  • The partial government shutdown began on Saturday, February 15, 2026.
  • Congress is on recess until February 23, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who made immigration enforcement a key priority and promised to be aggressive in detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants.

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Minority Leader, who argues that the Democrats' proposals for immigration officer oversight are commonsense measures followed by law enforcement agencies across the country.

Markwayne Mullin

A Republican senator from Oklahoma who says he could support body cameras and better training for immigration officers, but opposes demands to remove masks and clearly identify themselves, citing concerns about officer safety and harassment.

Katie Britt

A Republican senator from Alabama and Trump ally who had pushed for a two-week extension of DHS funding while negotiations continued, but now says it was "shortsighted of Democrats to walk away" from the talks.

Tom Homan

The White House border czar who says the administration is unwilling to agree to the Democrats' demands for immigration officers to clearly identify themselves, remove masks, and display unique ID numbers.

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What they’re saying

“And the question that Americans are asking is, 'Why aren't Republicans going along with these commonsense proposals?' They're not crazy. They're not way out. They're what every police department in America does.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader (CNN)

“What are you going to do, expose their faces so you can intimidate their families? What we want is ICE to be able to do their job. And we would love for local law enforcement and for states to cooperate with us.”

— Markwayne Mullin, Republican Senator (CNN)

“President Trump is not going to back away from the mission, the mission that American people said they wanted him to complete, and that is securing our border and making sure that we actually do interior enforcement.”

— Katie Britt, Republican Senator (Fox News)

What’s next

Congress is scheduled to return from recess on February 23, 2026, at which point lawmakers will likely resume negotiations to try to reach a deal and end the partial government shutdown.

The takeaway

The standoff over DHS funding and immigration enforcement oversight highlights the deep partisan divide on immigration policy, with the Trump administration's hardline approach clashing with Democrats' calls for more accountability and transparency. The shutdown is disrupting critical government services, underscoring the need for compromise and bipartisan solutions to address the complex issues surrounding immigration in the United States.