Funding Lapse & Security Gaps: Assessing Harmful Impacts of the DHS Shutdown on Americans, Part II

This was a hearing held by the House Committee on Homeland Security on April 23, 2026, focused on the impacts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown and alleged abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The hearing featured testimonies from American citizens who described violent encounters with DHS agents, including wrongful detentions, shootings, and civil rights violations. Witnesses and committee members criticized the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies and the refusal of key officials, Stephen Miller and Tom Homan, to testify. The discussion highlighted concerns over lack of accountability, transparency, and oversight of ICE and CBP, with calls to withhold further funding until reforms are enacted. A motion to subpoena Miller and Homan was introduced but ultimately tabled by a narrow vote. The hearing underscored deep partisan divisions and the ongoing DHS funding lapse, with Democrats urging reform and Republicans largely absent from the proceedings.