WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate passed a $70 billion legislative package early Friday morning to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol. The vote, which concluded just before 5 a.m., secures funding for these agencies for the next three years, covering the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term.
The 52-47 vote brings a close to months of legislative gridlock, during which Democrats blocked the funding to demand policy changes following the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in January. While the bill passed with nearly uniform party support—with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska the only Republican to oppose it and Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado absent—the path to the floor was complicated by intense internal Republican debate over an unrelated $1.776 billion settlement fund.
The settlement fund, which stems from a lawsuit filed by President Trump against the IRS regarding the leak of his tax returns, became a major point of contention. Despite acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stating earlier in the week that the fund would not move forward, many lawmakers remained skeptical. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., expressed frustration over the delay, stating shortly before midnight, “This would have been done several hours ago if we weren’t having to deal with some of the issues around the fund.”
Throughout the day and into the night, the Senate defeated multiple amendments aimed at blocking or restricting the fund. This included a proposal by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., that would have redirected settlement payments to law enforcement officers injured during the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Another amendment, proposed by Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., sought to move the settlement money into a Department of Justice anti-fraud fund. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized the retention of the fund, stating, “Republicans are now leaving taxpayers to rely on nothing more than a promise from Donald Trump’s personal fixer. That is not accountability. That is a permission slip.”
The legislative process faced further uncertainty after President Trump signaled conflicting views on the fund, telling reporters on Wednesday that it remains “incredibly important” while noting he did not know its current status.
What Happens Next
With the Senate having cleared this hurdle, the bill is expected to head to the House of Representatives. Lawmakers anticipate that the House may take up the legislation as early as next week. Should the House pass the measure, it would finalize a funding solution that has remained elusive since the Department of Homeland Security’s funding lapsed in mid-February and subsequent bipartisan negotiations failed to produce an agreement on immigration enforcement tactics.
