GOP lawmaker introduces bill to resume payments for Border Patrol and ICE agents in shutdown

EXCLUSIVE — Republican lawmakers in the House are seeking to continue paychecks for Border Patrol employees and ICE agents in the event of a government shutdown, looking to ensure the federal workers are still paid as the government braces to run out of money on Sunday.

Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green introduced the Homeland Heroes Pay Act on Friday, which would ensure that federal agents are still paid even if the homeland security spending bill is not finalized by Congress before the deadline.

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The legislation would ensure payments for CBP agents who perform “mission critical functions” at or between any of the Southwest, Northern, and maritime border ports of entry. Those functions include preventing terrorists, weapons, illegal immigrants, illicit drugs, or illegal contraband from entering the country.

“We cannot allow the brave men and women of CBP and ICE to pay the cost of congressional Democrats’ refusal to pass an appropriations bill with border security measures,” Green said. “This legislation protects the hard-earned paychecks of those working on the front lines of this devastating border crisis in the event of a lapse in government funding.”

The bill would also protect ICE agents responsible for immigration enforcement, such as detaining or deporting illegal immigrants, or for leading investigations of criminal operations and investigations into drug trades or human trafficking.

The bill garnered a number of co-sponsors, including House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins (R-LA), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), and Reps. Laurel Lee (R-FL), Dale Strong (R-AL), Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), and Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ).

The legislation comes as the House and Senate have yet to pass their annual Homeland Security appropriations bill, leaving the department unfunded once federal funding is set to lapse Sunday. During a government shutdown, only essential personnel are permitted to continue working, and then their pay is frozen until a budget is passed for the next fiscal year.

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue overseeing passengers seeking to cross the border, but the processing of some visa applications filed at either the southern or northern borders could be affected. ICE will also remain operational to deport illegal immigrants, although the agency is likely to remain focused on those already in custody rather than detaining new individuals.

The legislation comes as the government inches closer to a shutdown as both the House and Senate have yet to agree on any form of spending legislation, setting up a showdown between Republicans and Democrats as they seek to preserve their spending priorities.