Year: 2026

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced he will schedule a floor vote on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a GOP-backed measure pushed by Sen. Mike Lee (and supported in the House by Rep. Chip Roy) that would impose proof-of-citizenship and photo‑ID requirements for federal voter registration and voting. Backers say it will secure elections; critics argue it creates unnecessary barriers and amounts to voter suppression. Thune said the measure is being modified and will be brought to the floor “at some point,” while the bill’s fate depends on Senate support and procedural hurdles and partisan tensions are mounting. (dailysignal.com)

At 12:01 a.m. Eastern on January 31, 2026, the U.S. federal government entered a partial shutdown after Congress failed to enact remaining appropriations, leaving roughly half of federal departments unfunded. The Senate had approved a compromise spending package, but Speaker Mike Johnson delayed a House vote until February 2, creating a funding lapse. The Office of Management and Budget ordered agencies to implement contingency plans; essential services such as national defense, air traffic control, and law enforcement continue, while many nonessential staff face furloughs and paused programs. Negotiations will resume in Congress to restore funding and avert wider disruptions soon. (en.wikipedia.org)

On January 30, 2026, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski joined Democrats in supporting an amendment to rescind $75 billion in new ICE funding, a move tied to debate over a broader funding package and immigration enforcement reforms. (cbsnews.com) CBS News reported Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins voted with Democrats on the measure, which failed narrowly in the 49–51 roll call. (cbsnews.com) The Senate meanwhile passed a separate $1.2 trillion appropriations package and split off the Homeland Security bill to force negotiations over ICE and CBP, setting a two‑week clock and contributing to a partial government funding lapse that began Saturday, prompting urgent talks. (washingtonpost.com)

On January 30, 2026, protesters converged in downtown Los Angeles for a national “ICE Out” action; video shared by reporter Anthony Cabassa on X shows a crowd tearing down a security kiosk at a federal detention facility while federal agents fell back, saying they were outnumbered. (yahoo.com) NBC and local outlets reported clashes near the Edward R. Roybal/Metropolitan Detention Center, including protesters throwing debris and agents deploying tear gas and pepper balls. (abc7.com) The LAPD declared a citywide tactical alert and issued dispersal orders; authorities made multiple arrests as officers pushed crowds away and secured the area. The situation remains under development. (abc7.com)

On January 31, 2026, thousands of protesters converged on downtown Los Angeles and clashed with federal agents outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building where ICE detainees are held. Video and reports say rioters damaged a security kiosk, smashed windows, and pushed a large dumpster against the loading‑dock exit to barricade federal officers. Agents responded with tear gas, pepper balls and other crowd‑control measures; police declared the assembly unlawful and made arrests. The confrontation followed a day of nationwide “ICE Out” actions and prompted local officials and federal agencies to issue statements as the situation remained active into the night. (abc7.com)

President Trump publicly praised his border czar Tom Homan, posting a big shoutout as Homan—Trump’s appointed border czar and former acting ICE director—declared, “Tom Homan isn’t going anywhere.” The role, announced by Trump, places Homan over border and deportation operations and does not require Senate confirmation. Homan, a longtime immigration enforcer who oversaw record deportations and helped implement aggressive policies including family separations, says he will prioritize public-safety threats and run large-scale removal operations. Supporters applauded his experience; critics warned the pick signals harsher enforcement and renewed civil‑rights concerns. Protests and legal challenges are expected nationwide in the coming weeks. (washingtonpost.com)

LAPD officers fired crowd‑control munitions, including tear gas, rubber bullets and less‑lethal rounds, into a large crowd outside the ICE office in downtown Los Angeles after declaring an unlawful assembly. Protesters refused dispersal orders and remained near the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building, reportedly throwing projectiles at officers. Police advanced, pushed and corralled demonstrators, making multiple arrests while journalists and bystanders reported injuries. The clashes followed days of anti‑ICE demonstrations tied to federal immigration raids, sparked vehicle fires and freeway blockades, and have drawn scrutiny and legal challenges over the department’s use of less‑lethal weapons and prompted a national debate. (latimes.com)