Senate Votes on $70 Billion Bill for Immigration and Border Security
WASHINGTON – The Senate commenced voting on Thursday regarding a $70 billion bill aimed at funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and enhancing border security for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term.
Republican leaders plan to pass the bill without any Democratic support. However, the process faces a “vote-a-rama,” allowing senators from both parties to propose amendments, which Democrats intend to use to make Republicans take difficult stances.
Early indications of potential discord surfaced when the Democratic Party’s first amendment was withheld from public review by Republican leaders for three hours, creating uncertainty around the timeline for passing the bill.
A proposed amendment from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York seeks to prohibit the Justice Department from establishing a $1.8 billion fund favored by President Trump for anti-weaponization efforts. This amendment has garnered bipartisan backlash, with critics from both parties labeling the fund as a “slush fund” intended to channel taxpayer money to January 6 rioters and those aligned with Trump.
Although the bill failed with a 49-50 vote, it saw support from three Republicans, including Jon Husted from Ohio and Dan Sullivan from Alaska, both of whom are confronting challenging re-election scenarios in 2026.
The contentious nature of the legislation compelled Republicans to shelve discussions on the bill two weeks prior. Ambiguities in the Trump administration’s stance on the fund have further complicated the issue; while Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified that plans for the fund were not progressing, Trump signaled a reluctance to abandon it, calling it “great” and essential.
Given the complexities surrounding the proposal, some Republican lawmakers are considering amendments to the funding bill to limit such allocations without invalidating the overarching legislation. Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina expressed concerns about the fund’s accountability, suggesting colleagues should support measures that curtail it as a necessary political strategy for those up for re-election.
GOP Senators Divided Over Fund Amid Legislative Pressure
Senator Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, who recently lost a primary to a pro-Trump challenger, has also expressed a desire to thwart the creation of the fund. He joined Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey in signing a court brief that outlines significant constitutional challenges against the fund.
Despite dissenting opinions among Republicans, Senator Mike Rounds from South Dakota indicated a favorable view of Tillis’s amendment, emphasizing the necessity of clarifying limitations on fund usage.
On the other hand, Democrats remain steadfast in their opposition, with Schumer characterizing Trump’s proposed fund as abhorrent and vowing to push for a legislative ban. He articulated the necessity for a clear choice for Republicans: they must decide whether to support or eliminate these “slush funds.”
The House of Representatives is poised to vote on the bill following its passage in the Senate, although the timeline for this action remains uncertain. In the backdrop of public outcry following police killings in Minnesota, Democrats have threatened to defund ICE and Border Patrol unless Republicans consent to tighter restrictions on these agencies.
