US Senate passes new funds for ICE and Border Patrol
The US Senate has approved an additional US$70 billion ($A98 billion) for immigration enforcement after a marathon vote on an unrelated “anti-proliferation” fund that was nearly derailed by delays and backlash.
The Senate approved the legislation by a vote of 52 to 47, with no support from Democrats and without a provision that would ban a $1.8 billion “anti-proliferation” fund that could compensate President Donald Trump’s political allies for allegations that the government mistreated them.
Senate Republican leader John Thune said the funding was a “resolved issue,” citing Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s testimony to Congress that the Justice Department would not move forward on the issue, but Democrats say his word is inadequate.
Republicans accused Democrats of “defunding” Immigration, Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol despite the agencies having a total of $100 billion in unspent funds, part of a larger DHS spending package passed in 2025 by Republicans who control Congress.
Much of Thursday’s lengthy debate on the ICE funding bill was overshadowed by efforts by Democrats and some Republicans to add language unrelated to immigration.
These proposals revolved around banning the use of federal funds or even private donations to build the luxury ballroom on the White House grounds that Trump wanted.
Senators also discussed provisions that would make it illegal to use federal dollars for anti-gun funding.
None of these changes have been approved.
Funding provided by the bill will help cover Trump’s controversial immigration deportation crackdown over the next three years.
The bill goes to the House of Representatives for final approval.
Lawmakers began voting on amendments to the immigration bill early Thursday, culminating in a vote on the key measure early Friday.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer’s initial move to eliminate the “anti-proliferation” fund, which Democrats have called a slush fund for Trump’s allies, caused the session to be halted for hours, largely for procedural reasons, after Republican senator Susan Collins voted for the motion.
He was later joined by fellow Republicans Jon Husted and Dan Sullivan.
Schumer’s measure narrowly failed but revealed political turmoil among rank-and-file Republicans in the Senate five months before the midterm elections.
Collins, Husted and Sullivan face competitive races for re-election at a time when Trump’s approval rating is low even among Republicans.
“Republicans have refused to permanently outlaw Trump’s $2 billion slush fund, leaving taxpayers to rely on nothing but a promise from Donald Trump’s personal fixer,” Schumer said in a statement after the final vote, referring to Blanche. he said.
The funding has already been suspended by the White House and the Department of Justice.
But on Wednesday Trump refused to say whether the contract had actually been terminated, telling reporters: “I love it. I think it’s very important.”
