Armed federal immigration agents stood outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs field office in Camarillo as about 250 protesters gathered outside July 14, 2025.

WASHINGTON – Despite a potential government shutdown, the vast majority of immigration enforcement officers will be exempt and continue working, according to the Department of Homeland Security’s contingency plans.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is in the middle of a hiring surge, has 21,028 workers and would exempt 19,626 during a lapse in funding, according to the plan dated Sept. 27.

Customs and Border Protection has 67,792 workers and would retain 63,243 during a shutdown, according to the plan. Most of the remaining workers could be furloughed in as little as four hours, the agencies said, although some may take a few days to handle last-minute responsibilities such as procurement and budgeting.

Like the Pentagon, much of the Department of Homeland Security is considered "essential" to government operations and remains on duty during a temporary funding shutdown.

In stark contrast, the White House Office of Management and Budget asked agencies for plans to lay off non-essential workers rather than simply furlough them, as in past shutdowns.

Congress nearly tripled ICE’s funding this year − from $10 billion to $28.7 billion − as part of President Donald Trump’s top priority of increasing deportations. The extra funding included $50,000 bonuses to spur hiring 14,000 more agents.

But immigration agents have also come under fire for stricter enforcement. Trump mobilized National Guard to quell protests in Los Angeles in June.

A sniper opened fire Sept. 24 on an ICE office in Dallas, killing one detainee and injuring two others. It was the latest in a string of violent attacks on the nation's immigration system that are raising serious security concerns for ICE agents, attorneys, judges and migrants themselves.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ICE enforcement largely continues during government shutdown, DHS says

Reporting by Bart Jansen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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