The Senate approved a bill early Friday to finance President Trump’s immigration enforcement agency after facing weeks of setbacks and significant opposition regarding a $1.776 billion settlement fund that nearly derailed the legislation.
In a tight vote of 52-47, senators backed a $70 billion bill intended to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Security for three years, lasting through Trump’s term.
This final vote occurred shortly before 5 a.m., just as Republicans pushed back against multiple attempts—both from Democrats and some of their own—to attach a permanent ban on Trump’s settlement funds, which they argue are politically motivated.
In an overnight session, Republicans managed to clear a key obstacle by dismissing an amendment from Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy that proposed allocating settlement funds to law enforcement officers injured during the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
This amendment put party unity to the test, complicating what ideally would have been a straightforward vote for Republicans aiming to keep immigration enforcement front and center leading up to the elections.
Much of the day was consumed by discussions concerning the settlement fund, even after Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated earlier that it was not going to move forward. Senate Majority Leader John Thune remarked just before midnight, “This could have been wrapped up hours ago if not for the issues surrounding the fund.”
Thune has faced backlash from fellow Republicans for criticizing the judgment fund tied to the settlement resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax returns. Nevertheless, he has consistently urged Republican senators to keep the focus on funding for ICE and Border Security, which Democrats have opposed since the start of the year. His aim has been to prevent new provisions that might complicate the bill’s passage in the House.
Despite this, a faction of Republican senators pressed on, attempting to block settlement payments.
This urgency came in response to Trump’s comments to reporters after the Senate began discussing the immigration bill. He noted the settlement was “very important” and expressed uncertainty about its future, saying, “I don’t know” if it’s been scrapped or is just on hold.
As for attempts to ban the settlement funds, the first vote on Thursday morning focused on the Democrats’ effort to stop it, dragging on for hours as three senators, including Cassidy, mulled their positions.
The Democratic motion narrowly failed, with Cassidy voting against it alongside two Republican senators up for re-election, who supported banning the fund.
The Senate also rejected an amendment from North Carolina’s Sen. Thom Tillis, which sought to eliminate the settlement fund, redirecting its money to an anti-fraud initiative at the Justice Department. Most Democrats opposed this amendment, preventing its approval despite backing from over a dozen Republicans.
Tillis argued that the fund represents a political responsibility for the party, suggesting it might expose members to challenges leading up to Election Day.
Interestingly, Cassidy’s proposal to aid injured police officers was particularly contentious since funds could have gone to Trump supporters involved in the January 6 insurrection.
Even with Blanche’s assertions, Cassidy insisted that the fund remains active and “absolutely can be used.”
The Senate dismissed more Democratic attempts to limit or block the fund, including a proposal to prevent compensation for those who injured law enforcement on January 6.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed concern that Republicans are making taxpayers reliant on “Donald Trump’s personal fixer promises,” deeming it a lack of accountability.
Funding for ICE and Border Patrol has faced delays for months, but if passed, the roughly $70 billion bill will end a standoff from Democrats who have called for reforms following the tragic shooting of two protesters by federal agents last January. This legislation is designed to provide funding for these agencies for three years until the conclusion of Trump’s presidency.
Republicans employed a complex procedural tactic to advance the budget bill without needing Democratic votes, yet getting it to the Senate floor took weeks due to various hurdles caused by Trump and political dynamics within the White House. Factors included a proposed $1 billion allocation for White House security and Trump’s banquet hall, which was ultimately discarded, alongside intense bipartisan resistance to the Settlement Fund.
Democrats assert that the Department of Homeland Security funding bill should impose stricter regulations on federal immigration authorities, advocating for more thorough background checks on agents and promoting greater use of judicial warrants.
After the federal agents’ fatal shooting of Renee Goode and Alex Preti in Minneapolis, Trump agreed to separate the Homeland Security bill from larger spending legislation due to Democratic concerns. However, bipartisan discussions failed to yield progress, and the department’s budget lapsed in mid-February without a resolution to Trump’s immigration enforcement strategies.
Congress was able to fund the remainder of the Department of Homeland Security in late April with some Democratic support, but ICE and Border Patrol continue to operate without consistent funding.
