WASHINGTON (AP) – In a move with minimal conditions, Congress has allocated billions to the Department of Homeland Security to further President Donald Trump’s mass deportation strategy for the remainder of his term.
The nearly $70 billion immigration package passed the Republican-controlled Senate in a late-night vote and is now set to go to the House. Democratic leaders have criticized the bill as “rotten,” while pro-immigration advocates have dubbed it an “ICE ATM.”
For supporters of Trump’s campaign commitment to execute the largest mass deportation initiative in U.S. history, this legislation ensures a steady flow of funding for immigration enforcement. This comes in addition to approximately $170 billion previously authorized by Congress for the department last summer as part of Trump’s substantial tax cut plan.
Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, reaffirmed the administration’s intentions, stating, “We will continue to arrest, detain, and deport individuals,” hinting at significant operations slated for summer 2023, starting with New York City.
Funding Increases Without Oversight
This funding initiative arrives at a crucial juncture for both the president and the Republican Party, who are currently facing dissatisfaction among voters ahead of the midterm elections. A recent AP-NORC poll found that about one in three American adults knows someone impacted by Trump’s immigration policies. As the nation nears its 250th anniversary, a majority believe the U.S. is no longer a welcoming place for immigrants.
In stark contrast to typical legislation, the funding package is concise and lacking in the usual oversight mechanisms. By allocating $30 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and nearly $20 billion for Border Patrol and other services, the bill effectively pre-pays the department’s operations through 2029.
Vanessa Cardenas, Executive Director of America’s Voice, an immigrant advocacy group, noted the vast potential for misuse of these funds: “Their options are limitless in terms of what they can do with this money.” She emphasized that taxpayers are struggling with rising healthcare costs, food prices, and fuel expenses, making it unacceptable for taxpayer money to support a mass deportation agenda.
Blank Checks for Immigrant Enforcement
Traditionally, funding packages from Congress are extensive documents detailing specific expenditures and timelines. Congress has the constitutional authority to control financial outlays, often using this power to oversee government actions.
However, after Democrats rejected funding for the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year amid violence in Minnesota, Republicans exploited a budget resolution to bypass standard channels and enact their budget unilaterally. This method, employed by both parties in the past, was recently witnessed during Trump’s 2025 tax cuts.
Bobby Cogan, a former Senate Budget Committee staff member now at the Center for American Progress, expressed concern: “All of this important oversight is not happening.” Senate Democrats attempted to reassert their influence by proposing amendments to protect individuals whose Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewals were stalled, but all amendments ultimately failed.
Pressure Mounts for Increased Deportations
The Trump administration continues to face immense pressure to fulfill a commitment to escalate deportations to approximately 1 million individuals annually, especially after not meeting deportation targets in its first year. Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, leads a coalition advocating for increased deportations, urging the administration to prioritize arrests, particularly in workplaces.
Howell remarked that the influx of funding should not just maintain current operations but catalyze more aggressive enforcement actions. He suggests further constraining immigrants’ access to banking services, social programs, and driver’s licenses, with Republicans in Congress backing some related legislative efforts.
Recent administrative rhetoric has intensified, including the launch of a new website framing immigrants as “aliens” and revealing the White House’s strategies to reduce the undocumented population in the U.S.
