House Reopens DHS, But ICE and Border Patrol Still Need Full Funding

The U.S. House voted Thursday to approve Senate legislation reopening the Department of Homeland Security after weeks of delay.

President Donald Trump signed the bill shortly afterward, officially ending the 76-day DHS shutdown. The legislation restores full-year funding for DHS agencies, except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

That omission remains a major concern for conservatives who believe border security must be treated as a top national priority.

Rep. Cory Mills of Florida said the House vote was an important step toward keeping critical homeland security operations running, but made clear the work is not finished. He noted that ICE and CBP were left out of the package and said that must be corrected.

House Republicans had delayed action on the Senate plan until they saw progress on a separate budget reconciliation measure that would fund ICE and CBP for the next three years.

Using reconciliation to provide advance annual funding for federal agencies is unusual, but Republicans argue it is necessary to protect immigration enforcement from Democratic demands and political roadblocks.

Speaker Mike Johnson said Democrats gained nothing from the standoff and praised House Republicans for continuing to deliver despite their narrow majority.
For conservatives, the message is simple: reopening DHS is only part of the job. A nation that cannot secure its borders cannot fully secure its homeland. ICE and Border Patrol must be funded, supported, and equipped to do the job the American people expect.