DHS Shutdown Ends: Secretary Mullin Announces Reopening After 76 Days
- Xavi
- May 6
- 2 min read
Updated: May 6
Washington, D.C., May 6, 2026 — U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin announced on May 1, 2026, that the historic partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially ended. In a formal statement posted on the DHS website, Secretary Mullin declared, “the historic shutdown is over and DHS is back open.”
President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan legislation restoring funding to most DHS components on April 30, 2026, bringing an end to a 76-day shutdown that began on February 14, 2026. The funding measure allows the majority of DHS agencies and operations to resume normal activities immediately.
Key Details of the Agreement
Funding Restored: Most DHS agencies and offices, including FEMA, TSA, USCIS (in core functions), the Coast Guard, and various support and administrative units, are now fully funded and operational.
Immigration Enforcement Agencies Excluded: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) were deliberately left out of this funding package. Lawmakers plan to address funding for these two critical agencies through a separate budget reconciliation process in the coming weeks.
Duration: The partial shutdown lasted 76 days, making it one of the longest disruptions in DHS history.
The bipartisan deal was reached after intense negotiations between Congress and the White House to minimize further impact on national security, disaster response, and essential immigration services.
Impact on Immigration Services
While core USCIS operations are resuming, the exclusion of ICE and CBP means certain enforcement, border security, and deportation-related activities remain affected until separate funding is secured. Applicants and stakeholders should expect some ongoing delays in processing times that were impacted during the shutdown period.
BAL (Berry Appleman & Leiden) and other immigration law firms have stated they will continue to closely monitor developments and provide timely updates to clients.
What This Means Going Forward
Employers and individuals with pending applications at USCIS should see a gradual return to normal processing.
Travelers may notice improved operations at airports and ports of entry as TSA and other supported agencies stabilize.
Full restoration of ICE and CBP funding remains a priority for the administration and Congress.
Secretary Mullin urged all DHS personnel to return to their duties swiftly and thanked essential workers who continued critical operations during the funding lapse.
For official updates, visit the Department of Homeland Security website.
More U.S. Immigration Updates: visasupdate.com/blog
This resolution marks the end of a significant operational disruption at one of the largest federal departments. Immigration practitioners and affected parties are advised to check case statuses regularly and prepare for potential backlogs as agencies work through the accumulated workload
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