Border Patrol, ICE and CBP getting paid during shutdown, Cuellar says

HARLINGEN, Texas (Border Report) -- U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, says U.S. Border Patrol agents, Customs and Border Protection officers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are getting paid during the ongoing government shutdown.

During a call with reporters on Tuesday morning, Cuellar said the payment of federal law enforcement officers came from $10 billion in funds transferred from the Big Beautiful Bill.

Federal law enforcement serving on the line are getting paid "as long as it was tied into border security," Cuellar said.

A Border Patrol agent watches the Rio Grande near Anzalduas Park in Mission, Texas. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report File Photo)

"I'm glad that they're getting paid, but the civilians or the support staff for the men and women in blue are not getting paid. So they're still at the bridges. They're still at the Border Patrol working, but we need everybody to get paid," Cuellar said.

He says the money is paying salaries of over 61,000 law enforcement agents.

That includes Coast Guard operators, which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier this month announced would continue to get paid during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Members of the military also are being paid.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@borderreport.com.