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: CRS records a three-day DHS gap in late January and a 76-day DHS lapse from February 14 through April 30. Most of government was funded. 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.
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.