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ARTICLE · 05 MARCH 2026

The Current DHS Shutdown's Impact On Immigration Agencies

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With annual appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) having lapsed on Feb. 14, 2026, immigration stakeholders are again navigating the practical consequences of a DHS-specific shutdown.

United StatesImmigration
Clarissa C. Upadhyay
Clarissa C. Upadhyay

With annual appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) having lapsed on Feb. 14, 2026, immigration stakeholders are again navigating the practical consequences of a DHS-specific shutdown. Despite the current shutdown, most DHS immigration functions continue, but the impact may vary across agencies and programs. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) functions also remain operational. 

Big Picture: ‘Shutdown' Does Not Mean Stop

During a DHS shutdown, roughly 90% of the department's more than 260,000 employees are required to keep working, often without pay. Many immigration functions are deemed “essential,” while others are insulated by separate funding streams such as filing fees or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). For businesses, that means core adjudications and enforcement activities largely continue, even as certain programs pause.

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