The Senate has passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill to fund agencies under President Trump, overcoming significant delays and opposition.
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a decisive early morning vote on Friday, the Senate approved a substantial $70 billion immigration enforcement bill aimed at funding President Donald Trump’s immigration agencies. This legislation comes after weeks of delays and intense backlash surrounding an unrelated $1.776 billion settlement fund that threatened to derail the bill.
The Senate voted 52-47 in favor of the bill, which allocates funds for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol for the next three years, extending through the end of Trump’s term. Following this approval, the bill will move to the House of Representatives, where it is anticipated to be addressed next week.
The final vote took place just before 5 a.m., following a series of unsuccessful attempts by senators from both parties to amend the bill. Notably, Republicans managed to defeat efforts to include language that would permanently ban the controversial settlement fund for allies of Trump who claim political persecution.
One of the last significant hurdles for the bill was an amendment proposed by Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican, which sought to redirect payments from the settlement fund to law enforcement officers injured during the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. This amendment was also defeated, allowing the bill to proceed without further modifications.
The passage of this bill marks a pivotal moment in Trump’s immigration policy agenda, as it secures funding for enforcement agencies that have faced scrutiny and opposition throughout his presidency. The outcome reflects the ongoing partisan divisions in Congress regarding immigration and law enforcement funding.
As the legislation heads to the House, it remains to be seen how lawmakers will respond and whether any further amendments will be proposed. The political landscape surrounding immigration enforcement continues to evolve, with implications for both the current administration and future legislative efforts.
According to The Associated Press, the bill’s passage underscores the complexities and challenges of immigration policy in the United States.