Senate Approves $70 Billion Immigration Enforcement Bill, Sends Measure to House

The U.S. Senate on Friday approved a bill providing an additional $70 billion to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement, marking a significant victory for President Donald Trump’s administration. The legislation passed by a 52-47 vote, with no Democratic support and one Republican voting against it. The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for final consideration, where lawmakers are expected to take it up next week.

A major point of contention during the debate was a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that critics say could be used to compensate Trump allies who claim they were unfairly targeted by government investigations. Democratic efforts to permanently eliminate the fund failed, despite support from a handful of Republican senators. Senate Republican Leader John Thune defended the decision, citing assurances from acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that the Justice Department would not proceed with the fund.

Most of the new funding would support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations, helping finance the administration’s aggressive deportation campaign over the next three years. The debate also included unsuccessful amendments aimed at restricting federal spending on projects such as Trump’s proposed White House ballroom and the controversial fund. The vote highlighted divisions within the Republican Party ahead of the November midterm elections, as some lawmakers warned the issue could become a political liability among voters.

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