Congress Must End DHS Shutdown and Fund Homeland Security

Arlington, VA — The LIBRE Initiative, the nation’s largest center-right Latino organization, today called on Congress to immediately pass legislation to fully fund the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and end the ongoing partial shutdown affecting the agency.

With rising international tensions and ongoing military conflict involving Iran, national security experts warn that prolonged disruption within DHS could weaken the federal government’s ability to coordinate intelligence and respond to potential threats.

The LIBRE Initiative emphasized that protecting American communities must remain a top priority and urged lawmakers to act quickly to restore stability to the agencies responsible for border security, aviation safety, disaster response, and homeland defense.

Daniel Garza, President of LIBRE, released the following statement:

“At a time when global tensions are rising and our nation faces real security challenges, Congress must ensure that the Department of Homeland Security has the resources it needs to keep Americans safe. A prolonged shutdown only creates unnecessary risk and uncertainty for the families and communities that depend on these critical services.

DHS personnel work every day to protect our borders, secure our transportation systems, and respond to emergencies. Congress should move immediately to fund the department, support these public servants, and provide the stability our national security agencies need to do their jobs effectively.”

The LIBRE Initiative urged lawmakers from both parties to put aside political disagreements and reach a responsible funding agreement that restores DHS operations and protects the safety of American communities.