As the federal government heads towards a potential shutdown starting on Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security assures that immigration and border operations will continue, but said that those frontline workers could be going without pay. The agency also noted that the officer hiring processes will still continue, including for recruitment. SHUTDOWN EXPLAINED: WHO WORKS, WHO DOESN'T AND HOW MUCH IT COSTS"While these critical operations continue, Democrats are forcing many of our nearly 200,000 frontline officers, emergency responders and employees to continue secur[ing] the Homeland without pay," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. Meanwhile, Democrats in Congress have said that Republicans should bear the blame for the shutdown. BORDER PATROL UNION WARNS: 'LIFE AND DEATH' MISSION AT RISK IN SHUTDOWN FIGHT"Republicans would rather shut down the government than protect the Affordable Care Act.