Senate Moves Forward with $70 Billion Immigration Funding Plan
The Senate voted on Wednesday, following party lines, to kick off discussions on a $70 billion funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. This marks a notable step towards fulfilling one of the key priorities of the Trump administration.
The vote, which ended at 53-46, sets the stage for Congress to review a range of amendments on Thursday, an event that insiders have dubbed “vote-a-rama.” Many of these amendments aim to permanently prevent the establishment of a $1.776 billion settlement fund intended for compensating victims of government weapon use—a contentious issue that had threatened the bill’s progress.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) commented to reporters after the vote, stating, “The goal right now is to get the basic bill across the finish line.”
In a press conference, President Trump defended the settlement fund amidst inquiries from journalists, expressing his strong support by saying, “I love it” and “I think it’s very important.”
Following a discussion with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Tuesday, where he indicated that “we are not proceeding with the creation of the fund,” President Trump was asked if the fund had been eliminated or merely postponed. He responded, perhaps a bit uncertainly, “I’ll have to ask my lawyer, but I don’t know.”
Reacting to Trump’s statements, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) shared on social media that this situation underscores why Democrats are advocating for a vote to formally ban the fund, rather than simply relying on the administration’s assurances.
Additionally, some Republicans are taking steps to hold Blanche’s promise accountable. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) stated he would propose an amendment to prevent any future efforts to reinstate the fund, emphasizing that “enough Republicans have made it clear that they are concerned.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Thune remarked that he believed Blanche’s comments were “very helpful,” suggesting that most Republican senators felt reassured with the current developments.
