US Senate approves $70bn for Trump immigration agencies

The package to fund agencies including ICE until the end of Trump's term had face Democratic opposition over immigration agents killing two US citizens.

The U.S. Senate narrowly passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol through the end of President Donald Trump's term, after intense partisan debate and internal GOP conflict. The 52-47 vote followed attempts to block a controversial $1.776 billion settlement fund linked to a lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS. This fund, intended for Trump's allies claiming political persecution, became a focal point of the debate, with efforts to permanently ban it rejected, despite even some Republicans pushing against it.

The U.S. Senate, led by Republicans, has approved continued funding for ICE and Border Patrol operations through the conclusion of President Trump's second term. The decision followed an intense 18-hour 'vote-a-rama,' during which numerous Democratic amendments were rejected. Among these was a challenge to the 'anti-weaponization fund,' which sought to limit spending perceived as politically motivated; this measure was narrowly upheld with GOP unity. However, more dissent was observed regarding funding for Trump's proposed White House ballroom, where seven Republicans sided with Democrats, though the proposal ultimately failed due to a higher 60-vote threshold. The voting session reflects growing unease among Senate Republicans amidst poor polling and concerns about Trump's recent political decisions. The House is expected to address the bill the following week.

The U.S. Senate passed legislation to fund Donald Trump's controversial immigration crackdown early on Friday morning. The 52-47 vote on funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) passed with no Democratic support at 5am, after a marathon session of votes to knock down proposed amendments. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican who voted against the bill, which used a budget reconciliation process to sidestep the Democratic filibuster. The bill would give the DHS another $70bn to fund immigration enforcement through the remainder of Trump's term as U.S. president. The legislation now goes to the House for consideration, which is expected to take it up next week. The funding bill does not block a $1.8bn 'anti-weaponization' fund, which critics have derided as a slush fund for the president's allies, despite bipartisan anger. Democrats had sought to attach language blocking its implementation into the legislation. Nor does the bill restore funding to the office of the immigration detention ombudsman, an independent watchdog investigating abuses by ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of detainees.

The Senate passed legislation to fund President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agencies early Friday morning, after weeks of delays and fierce backlash to an unrelated $1.776 billion settlement fund that threatened to ... Senators voted 52-47 for the $70 billion legislation to ... . The final vote came just before ... The funding had been delayed for months due to Democrat demands for broader immigration policy changes and backlash to federal agent-involved shootings of protesters. Ultimately, Senate Republicans bypassed Democratic obstruction using procedural tactics. The bill now heads to the House for consideration.

Senate Republicans passed long-sought funding for the Department of Homeland Security's immigration enforcement agencies following a marathon vote series that began Thursday and stretched through the night and into Friday morning, approving the reconciliation package despite intense pushback over the administration's 'anti-weaponization' fund that had threatened its path forward. In a 52 to 47 vote, the Senate approved the roughly $70 billion package to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement ... through the end of the Trump administration. One Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voted with Democrats in opposition. The package now heads to the House.