The U.S. Congress is advancing a $70 billion funding package for immigration agencies ICE and CBP. After passing the Senate 52-47 using the budget reconciliation process to bypass a filibuster, the bill now heads to the House. Democrats strongly oppose the measure, citing the January deaths of two civilians and a controversial $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund proposed by President Trump, which they have labeled a slush fund.
Immigration enforcement funding package
- ▪The U.S. Senate passed a $70 billion funding package for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- ▪The Senate approved the package in a 52-47 vote, with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski being the only member of her party to vote against it
- ▪A final U.S. House vote on the immigration funding package could occur as soon as Tuesday, June 9, 2026
- ▪The funding would cover the immigration agencies through the end of President Donald Trump's term
Democratic opposition to bill
- ▪House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that House Democrats will be a "hard no" on the Republican reconciliation bill
- ▪Democratic opposition to funding ICE and CBP began after two civilians were killed by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis during a January immigration surge
Government shutdown aftermath
- ▪The funding dispute led to a partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security that lasted for more than two months
- ▪ICE and CBP were left out of an earlier government spending bill due to the partisan disagreement over immigration enforcement policy
Budget reconciliation process
- ▪Republicans used the budget reconciliation process, which requires a simple majority of 50 votes in the Senate, to advance the legislation
- ▪Senator Lindsey Graham said the reconciliation process was necessary because Democrats had objected to giving any money to Border Patrol and ICE
Trump anti-weaponization fund controversy
- ▪President Trump proposed a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund to compensate Americans wrongly targeted by the government, which drew bipartisan backlash
- ▪A Democratic amendment to block Trump's proposed "anti-weaponization" fund failed in the Senate, with only three Republicans voting in favor
Senate parliamentarian dispute
- ▪Following the ruling, President Trump publicly called for the firing of parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, calling her a "Radical Left Lunatic."
- ▪Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that a $1 billion provision for a proposed White House ballroom could not be included in the package
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