Texas Border Business
Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON — The Senate approved a $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill early Friday, providing funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol through the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term. The measure passed 52-47 and now heads to the House, which is expected to take it up next week.
The vote came after weeks of delays and an overnight debate over a separate $1.776 billion settlement fund tied to a legal agreement involving Trump and the Internal Revenue Service. Lawmakers rejected multiple amendments seeking to block, restrict, or redirect the fund before passing the bill shortly before 5 a.m.
A separate amendment from Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina would have prohibited the fund and redirected the money to a Justice Department anti-fraud account. The measure failed despite support from more than 10 Republicans.
Additional Democratic amendments targeting payments to individuals connected to the Jan. 6 attack were also rejected.
Congress previously approved funding for other Department of Homeland Security operations, leaving ICE and Border Patrol appropriations unresolved until Friday’s Senate vote.
The House is expected to consider the measure next week.
