THE WEEK’S US BORDER NEWS IN BRIEF:
The week ending February 15, 2026, was dominated by a partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a high-profile drawdown of federal enforcement surges in the Midwest.
1. DHS Partial Government Shutdown
A partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security began at midnight on Saturday, February 14, after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement.
The Impasse: Senate Democrats blocked a full-year funding bill, demanding new oversight guardrails and restrictions on ICE and Border Patrol operations.
The Catalyst: Democratic demands followed the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, by federal agents during an enforcement surge in Minneapolis last month.
Impacted Agencies: Funding has lapsed for the TSA, FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, Secret Service, ICE, and CBP. However, many core border operations remain funded through the “Big Beautiful Bill Act” signed in 2025.
Current Status: Lawmakers left Washington for the President’s Day recess without a resolution, meaning the shutdown is expected to last at least until they return on February 23.
2. Minneapolis Enforcement Drawdown
White House border czar Tom Homan announced the end of the “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
Personnel Withdrawal: More than 1,000 agents have already left the area, with hundreds more scheduled to depart in the coming days.
Residual Force: Homan stated a “small security force” will remain to protect agents from “agitators” and to continue investigations into widespread Medicaid and marriage fraud.
Enforcement Totals: Officials reported that over 10,000 individuals were removed during the surge, which has faced intense local protest and national scrutiny following the recent deaths.
3. Border Security & Immigration Statistics
The administration highlighted continued declines in illegal border activity.
Low Encounters: Preliminary January data show U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended 42% fewer illegal aliens per day at the southern border than in a single hour during the height of the previous administration.
Zero Releases: U.S. Border Patrol marked its ninth consecutive month of “zero releases,” claiming every apprehended individual was processed and detained according to law.
Arrest Data: A newly released internal DHS document revealed that only 14% of immigrants arrested by ICE in the past year had convictions or charges for violent crimes, challenging the administration’s “worst of the worst” rhetoric.
4. Temporary Protected Status Updates
TPS Terminations: Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen on February 13. This follows similar recent terminations for Somalia and Ethiopia.
“INJURY TIME-OUT” UPDATE:
Late last month, I declared an “injury time-out” after a fall during a winter ice storm resulted in severely bruised ribs and several broken bones in my right hand (which has made it difficult for me to produce new US Border News articles).
Since then, my ribs have healed, and the reduced swelling in my hand has allowed me to progress from a “soft cast” to a “hard cast,” which should allow me to write more. We’ll see.
Despite these challenges, I remain committed to delivering a US Border Newsletter that is not only educational and insightful but also engaging and easy to digest in five minutes or less.
(How am I doing? Let me know in the comments!) Also, this post is public, so feel free to share it!
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
