WASHINGTON – The Senate, under Republican leadership, will commence voting on Wednesday for a bill focused on financing immigration enforcement bodies. This follows the removal of a controversial settlement fund intended for political allies and a separate security proposal for the White House from the legislation.
The legislation, which allocates approximately $70 billion to fund the operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol, faced delays due to several challenges posed by President Donald Trump and his administration. However, Republican senators have navigated these hurdles and are poised to proceed with the streamlined bill in its original form.
“Our priority now is to ensure the foundational bill is successfully passed,” stated Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota.
Despite this progress, Republicans must rally sufficient support to counteract numerous amendments anticipated from Democrats and potentially some Republicans. Utilizing the budget reconciliation process allows Republicans to pass the bill without Democratic support, but they must first overcome a series of amendment votes that could complicate the bill’s passage.
The upcoming amendment votes will provide a critical test of Republican cohesion.
The most significant challenge anticipated during the amendment voting, which could commence as early as Wednesday night, involves Democratic proposals regarding Trump’s $1.776 billion settlement fund. This fund was abandoned by the administration on Tuesday following strong Republican opposition. While acting Attorney General Todd Blanche assured Congress that “we are not proceeding with the fund, period,” Democrats are pushing for this decision to be formally codified into law.
“It is only a matter of time before Blanche and Trump go back on their word,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Thune said Blanche’s comments were “extremely helpful” and he thinks most GOP senators were satisfied by the decision. “We’ll find out,” he said.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., has said he may offer an amendment to block any attempt at resurrecting that fund, which was part of a settlement resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns.
Thune said he is working with Tillis and others who have discussed amendments as he tries to ensure he has enough votes for a simple majority in the 53-47 Senate.
“Keep in mind, we’ve got to keep them all together, make sure we’ve got 50 votes for it,” Thune said.
Money has been dropped for Trump’s ballroom
The legislation was also delayed by the opposition to $1 billion in security funding for the White House, including for Trump’s new ballroom, that was added to the original bill.
Democrats and some Republicans questioned using taxpayer money for the massive project in a time of economic hardship for many voters. Democrats had planned amendments to strip that language, as well.
As various side issues temporarily derailed the legislation, Republicans have said their top priority is passing the ICE and Border Patrol funding that Democrats have blocked for months in protest of the administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown. But success requires GOP unity in the Senate and the House before it can reach Trump.
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Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
