Despite the federal government grinding to a halt late last night, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents aren’t clocking out.

Immigration enforcement operations will continue mostly as usual, according to a contingency plan from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dated Sept. 27.

ICE currently employs 21,028 people and 19,626 of them — about 93% — will continue to work during the shutdown, according to the DHS plan.

This is more minimal than what was projected by the agency in 2022, when ICE estimated it would have to furlough just 17% of its employees in the event of a shutdown, according to the American Immigration Council .

“Because most of ICE’s work is deemed ‘essential’ law enforcement work ... ICE would continue the current trends and levels of immigration e

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