Congress returned to Washington on Monday only days before funding runs out for the Department of Homeland Security. The House has threatened to shut down the department unless the funding bill also blocks President Barack Obama's plan to limit deportations for millions of immigrants. The Senate so far has refused to link the two.

“Republicans should stop holding our homeland security hostage and pass a clean, long-term funding bill. Terrorist acts are not only a threat to Paris and Denmark, they are a threat to the United States. We need the Homeland Security Department to be strong and vigilant, not shut down because Republicans disagree with the president over immigration," Sen. Bernie Sanders said. 

If Congress fails to agree on a new budget by Friday’s deadline, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson warned that inaction would result in staff furloughs and weaken the ability of the United States to respond to terrorist threats and warnings.