Chicago – Mrch 22, 2026
A Texas Democrat has criticized the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown for severely limiting families’ ability to contact or locate loved ones in immigration detention centers. As the agency enters its sixth week without federal funding, Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, reports receiving numerous complaints from constituents struggling to arrange medical care or even confirm detainees’ whereabouts.
Johnson emphasized that political disputes should not override oversight responsibilities. “Constituents have a fundamental right to information about loved ones in custody, and Congress has a constitutional duty to oversee these matters,” she stated to NPR. She noted that while Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) continues operations, communication delays create serious repercussions for families and attorneys.
Immigration attorney Marium Uddin described the effects as “sporadic and challenging to quantify,” particularly at the individual level, amid inconsistent responses from DHS. Democrats seek immigration enforcement reforms before approving funding, but Johnson introduced legislation last month to ensure congressional communication persists during lapses.
The shutdown has furloughed about 100,000 DHS employees, with unclear impacts on internal oversight offices like Detention Oversight. Critics argue these disruptions exacerbate accountability concerns within the agency.
