House Republicans on Tuesday sent a $70 billion immigration enforcement package to President Donald Trump, ending months of internal party disputes.
The measure would fund the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, for the rest of Trump’s second term. Republicans made it their top legislative priority after Democrats blocked funding for ICE and Border Patrol following the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota by federal agents.
The bill advanced despite divisions among Republicans in both chambers. In the Senate, some Republicans objected to Trump’s proposed Justice Department settlement fund, which critics said could benefit his allies. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers the fund would not move forward, but some Senate Republicans had sought to block it in the legislation. In the end, only Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the package.
The final bill did not add new reforms or oversight for ICE after the fatal shootings. Democrats criticized that decision.
One Trump request was dropped: $1 billion for White House security upgrades, including $200 million for an East Wing ballroom project. Senate Republicans had raised concerns about the proposal, and the Senate parliamentarian ruled against it.
Before the final House vote, more than a dozen conservative Republicans delayed a procedural vote while seeking commitments on a separate immigration bill, according to two people familiar with the talks. It was unclear whether they received a promise for a floor vote on that measure, which the article said would likely fail in the narrowly divided House.
