US Senate Passes $70 Billion Immigration Enforcement Funding Bill After Lengthy Debate

WASHINGTON: The United States Senate early Friday approved a $70 billion funding bill for President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agencies, following weeks of political wrangling and controversy surrounding a separate settlement fund that threatened to delay the legislation.

The Senate passed the measure by a vote of 52-47 shortly before 5:00 a.m., securing funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol for the next three years, through the remainder of President Trump’s current term.

The final vote came after lawmakers rejected several amendments proposed by both Republican and Democratic senators seeking to permanently block a controversial $1.776 billion settlement fund intended for individuals who claim they were politically persecuted.

A significant hurdle was cleared when Republican senators defeated an amendment introduced by Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, which would have redirected settlement payments to law enforcement officers injured during the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

The settlement fund, linked to a legal agreement resolving President Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the disclosure of his tax returns, has sparked criticism from lawmakers in both parties. Despite concerns, Senate Republican leaders urged colleagues to keep the immigration funding bill focused on border security and avoid provisions that could jeopardize its passage in the House of Representatives.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged that debate over the settlement fund had significantly delayed the legislation, stating that the bill could have been approved much earlier if lawmakers had not been forced to address the controversy.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina argued that codifying restrictions on the settlement fund would remove a political liability ahead of upcoming elections. However, his amendment to prohibit the fund and transfer the money to a separate anti-fraud account at the Department of Justice was also rejected.

Senator Cassidy maintained that despite assurances from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that the fund would not move forward, the settlement remained active and could still be implemented. Several Democratic amendments aimed at restricting payments from the fund, particularly to individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 events, were also defeated.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Republicans for failing to place legal restrictions on the settlement fund, saying taxpayers were being asked to rely solely on assurances from administration officials.

Passage of the legislation ends months of delays over funding for ICE and the Border Patrol. Democrats had blocked the measure earlier this year while demanding policy changes following fatal shootings involving federal agents in January.

Senate Republicans ultimately used a procedural mechanism to bypass the filibuster and approve the budget measure without Democratic support. The bill now moves forward after overcoming a series of political obstacles, including disputes over White House spending proposals and the controversial settlement fund.