Does USCIS close during a shutdown?

Not always. USCIS is largely fee-funded, so many applications can continue. A facility inside a closed federal building, or a ceremony that needs a furloughed partner, can still be affected.

E-Verify has been unavailable during some DHS lapses. Employers should keep I-9 records and follow DHS guidance for creating cases when the system returns.

Are the border and TSA still operating?

Yes in most plans. CBP, TSA, and many ICE functions are excepted. Officers may work without timely pay, which can still produce delays.

Was E-Verify down during the 2025 shutdown?

Yes. E-Verify was offline from October 1 to October 9, 2025. Employers had until October 14 to create cases for employees hired during the outage.

Were TSA and Coast Guard employees paid during the 2026 DHS lapse?

It differed by component. A March 27, 2026 executive order directed that TSA employees be paid. About 56,000 Coast Guard personnel went without pay until the DHS appropriations law enacted April 30, 2026.

Immigration, USCIS, and DHS During a Government Shutdown

Short answer: Do not assume “DHS is shut down” means every immigration office is dark. Screening and many enforcement functions are excepted. Benefits work, E-Verify, FEMA grants, and some USCIS support can move slowly—especially in a DHS-only lapse like the one in 2026.

Partial lapses hit DHS differently

Congress can fund 11 of the 12 annual bills and leave Homeland Security on a short CR. That is what happened in 2026: The January 31–February 3 lapse affected multiple departments, including DHS. The February 3 law funded five annual bills and extended DHS funding through February 13. The later February 14–April 30 lapse was specific to DHS; the House historian lists it as 76 days. Most of government was funded during that later lapse. People with TSA, FEMA, USCIS, or Coast Guard business still felt it.

If every bill has lapsed, DHS is one department among many. If only DHS has lapsed, the rest of the impact checker may show “continues” while this page does not. Read partial vs. full shutdown.

What happened in the 2025 shutdown

In the government-wide October 1 – November 12, 2025 shutdown, DHS was one department among many:

USCIS continued. It is fee-funded, and interviews continued.
E-Verify went offline from October 1 to October 9, 2025. When it returned, employers had until October 14 to create cases for people hired during the outage.

The 2026 DHS lapse in practice

The DHS-only lapse of February 14 – April 30, 2026 showed how a partial shutdown can treat DHS employees unevenly:

Group	What happened
TSA employees	A March 27, 2026 executive order directed that they be paid
Coast Guard	About 56,000 personnel went without pay until the April 30 law
ICE and Border Security Operations	Their accounts were excluded from the April 30 law

The April 30 law did not cover every DHS account, so “the lapse ended” did not mean the same thing for every component. Each lapse can differ. See the 2026 lapses and the 2025 government shutdown, and check the appropriations tracker for the status of fiscal 2027 bills.

Component by component

Component	Typical pattern
TSA	Excepted; delays can grow as unpaid absences rise
CBP (ports and Border Patrol)	Excepted operations continue
ICE	Many enforcement functions excepted; some support work pauses
USCIS	Often continues on fee funding; local disruptions still happen
E-Verify	Has shut down in prior lapses
FEMA	Immediate response can continue; some grant and recovery work pauses
Coast Guard	Operations continue; pay can be at risk in a DHS-only lapse
Secret Service	Protective functions continue

Naturalization ceremonies sometimes need a court or a USCIS office. Either partner can force a reschedule.

What applicants and employers should do

Keep receipts, biometrics notices, and interview letters.
Check the specific field office or ASC before traveling.
Do not miss a response deadline because a call center is down; file in writing if the portal is open.
Employers: complete the I-9 on time even if E-Verify is offline, and create the E-Verify case when the system returns, following current DHS instructions.
Travelers: see air travel and TSA and passports and visas.