SHUTDOWN FORCES 20,000 BORDER PATROL AGENTS, CBP OFFICERS TO WORK BORDER WITHOUT PAY

On the first day of the federal government shutdown, Border Patrol agents and CBP officers in Brownsville, Texas continued to work without pay, conducting vehicle inspections and patrols along the Rio Grande. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said officers will keep protecting the border despite political gridlock and rising assaults on personnel. Local lawmakers voiced concern: Rep. Monica De La Cruz criticized forcing agents to work without pay, while Rep. Henry Cuellar discussed efforts to reach a budget deal and noted some Operation Stonegarden funds had been distributed but other appropriations remain frozen. The Rio Grande Valley Sector reported 1,363 migrant encounters in August — the most of any Southwest sector, though down substantially from August 2024 — underscoring operational pressure during the shutdown.