THE WEEK’S US BORDER NEWS IN BRIEF:
News involving U.S. border security and immigration from September 27 to October 3, 2025, includes a federal government shutdown, a crackdown on illegal immigration in Chicago, the deployment of federal troops in Portland, a Supreme Court decision regarding Venezuelan migrants, and another deadly US attack on a suspected smuggling vessel off Venezuela.
US attacks a fourth suspected smuggling boat
Four more cartel smuggling suspects killed: ABC News (and other sources, including President Trump on TruthSocial) reported that “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday ordered another strike on a boat off the coast of Venezuela in international waters, killing four “male narcoterrorists,” in what appears to be the Trump administration’s fourth such attack.
Government shutdown
Minimal impact on enforcement: A government shutdown took effect on September 30 after Congress failed to pass a new budget. However, the Washington Office on Latin America reported that nearly all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel, including over 93% of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staff, are considered essential and must continue working.
Immigration courts affected: A prolonged shutdown could lead to postponements in immigration court cases.
Immigration enforcement and related lawsuits
“Operation Midway Blitz”: The DHS announced that ICE and Border Patrol officers arrested more than 800 undocumented immigrants in the Chicago area as part of an operation that began in early September.
The operation sparked protests, and federal agents detained multiple demonstrators at an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois.
In response to a “credible threat” involving drones, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restricted airspace over Chicago at the request of the DHS.
Deployments to Portland: Following a post on Truth Social, President Donald Trump authorized the deployment of federal troops to protect federal facilities from protesters in Portland, Oregon. The city and state challenged the deployment in court, with a federal judge scheduled to rule on a temporary restraining order.
H-1B visa lawsuit: A lawsuit was filed to block the Trump administration’s recently announced $100,000 fee for H-1B skilled worker visas.
Judicial decisions
SCOTUS allows removal of TPS: The Supreme Court permitted the Trump administration to remove Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from more than 300,000 Venezuelan nationals.
Federal court rules on birthright citizenship: A federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration cannot end birthright citizenship via executive order.
Other developments
Teen incentive for voluntary departure: The federal government announced a plan to offer a $2,500 stipend to migrant teenagers aged 14 and older in federal custody who agree to voluntarily return to their home countries. Mexican teenagers do not qualify for the offer.
Agricultural worker petitions: The DHS finalized a rule, effective October 2, to streamline the filing process for certain temporary agricultural worker petitions.
Software removed: Apple removed the crowdsourcing app ICEBlock and similar software from its App Store following pressure from the Trump administration.
FINALLY, IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
(Stories covered by US Border News during the past week)
Will the message get through?
(Over the past 12 months)
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I am 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.
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Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
Jack, I always read your posts. It impresses me that you know so much about our border and the hard work that CBP and ICE are doing to keep our borders closed and secure. Thank you Jack.
I wish the cartels would stop sending their drug boats, hence no more deaths by overdose or by explosives. They are hard headed.