New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton says a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security would be irresponsible and dangerous.

He urged Congress “not to play politics.”

House Republicans recently passed a DHS funding bill with immigration amendments that Democrats say are unacceptable.

Hours from a partial agency shutdown, Congress on Friday moved to approve a three-week stopgap measure. It would allow lawmakers to keep the Homeland Security Department running at a time of heightened threats worldwide.

Bratton says the DHS funds a number of programs that are vital to the city’s security. They include the NYPD’s intelligence analyst program and the purchase and deployment of explosive detection equipment.

He says to maximize the NYPD’s ability to protect New York City the DHS has to be fully funded.

(AP)