House Passes Funding Bill for Immigration Agencies
House Republicans have approved a bill worth nearly $70 billion that would support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through 2029.
The Safe America Act received a tight vote of 214-212 in the House on Tuesday. It’s designed to provide three years of upfront funding for both ICE and CBP, as reported by Center Square. This vote follows the Senate’s approval of the same bill on Friday.
This legislation allocates roughly $38.5 billion to ICE, $22.6 billion to CBP, and about $5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Furthermore, around $3.5 billion is set aside specifically for border security infrastructure.
Interestingly, while Democrats initially held off on funding for ICE and CBP, it was ultimately Republicans who delayed the budget reconciliation bill as it reached its final stages.
The original timeline aimed for the bill’s passage in both chambers by June 1. However, there was some disagreement among Republicans over controversial provisions that were eventually dropped, hindering progress in the Senate.
Rep. Kevin Kiley from California aligned with House Democrats against the bill, according to NBC News.
Notably, there was a prior Congressional decision in late April to finance certain aspects of DHS, but it excluded ICE and CBP, which also highlighted the urgency of this current funding endeavor.
Senator Lindsey Graham took to X to applaud House Republicans for swiftly passing the Safer America Act. He expressed gratitude for their efforts, emphasizing that, despite Democratic opposition, Republicans ensured comprehensive funding for ICE and Border Patrol throughout President Trump’s second term.
Meanwhile, several House Republicans, including Reps. David Kustoff and Steve Scalise, expressed their support for the bill, stating it will equip federal law enforcement with necessary resources to maintain community safety.
Kustoff noted, “Today, I voted to pass the Safe America Act, which funds ICE and CBP through September 30, 2029.” He reiterated the importance of this legislation in keeping our communities secure.
Scalise added his thoughts, highlighting that not one House Democrat voted in support of funding for ICE and Border Patrol agents, affirming that House Republicans responded to the public’s demand for border security.
The bill is now set to head to President Trump’s desk for approval.
