The Senate passed legislation early Friday morning to fund immigration enforcement agencies, approving a package totaling approximately $70 billion by a vote of 52-47.
The legislation funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations for the next three years, through 2029, according to The Hill. The Hindu reported the funding extends through the end of President Donald Trump's term. The New York Post and The Hindu both reported the final vote tally as 52-47.
The package includes a settlement fund that sources referred to variously as an "anti-weaponization" fund or settlement fund. NBC News reported the fund totals $1.8 billion, while NPR cited a figure of $1.776 billion. The legislation passed without limits on this fund, according to ABC News and other sources.
The vote followed what NPR described as "weeks of delays and fierce backlash" related to the settlement fund. NBC News characterized the backlash as "intense bipartisan backlash" over the fund. The Hill reported that the Senate overcame "the concerns of several Republicans" regarding the package.
The Hill described the legislation as a $69.5 billion budget reconciliation package. The outlet reported that the funding would support immigration enforcement operations through 2029. The discrepancy between the $69.5 billion figure cited by The Hill and the $70 billion figure reported by NBC News, ABC News, the New York Times, NPR, the New York Post, and The Hindu was not explained in the source articles.
The New York Times reported the bill's passage represented a victory for President Trump and his party. The newspaper noted that the debate exposed disagreements between Republican senators and Trump on various issues.
The legislation passed after what The Hill described as "clashes over ballroom" and the "anti-weaponization" fund. The specific nature of the "ballroom" dispute was not detailed in the available source excerpts.
The bill now moves forward for final approval. The sources did not specify the next procedural steps or timeline for implementation.
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