US Senate approves $70 billion immigration enforcement bill, rejects bid to block Trump's fund

WASHINGTON: The US Senate early Friday approved legislation providing an additional $70 billion for immigration enforcement, handing President Donald Trump a legislative victory and sending the measure to the House of Representatives for final consideration.

The bill passed by a vote of 52-47, with no Democratic support. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski was the only member of her party to vote against the legislation.

The measure allocates funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, to support the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and deportation efforts over the next three years.

Lawmakers rejected multiple amendments seeking to prohibit the use of federal funds for a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, which critics say could be used to compensate Trump allies who claim they were unfairly targeted by government actions.

Senate Republican Leader John Thune described the issue as settled, citing testimony by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that the Department of Justice would not proceed with the fund. However, Democrats argued that the assurance was insufficient because it was not written into law.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer led efforts to remove the fund from the legislation, describing it as a potential “slush fund” for Trump allies. His proposal failed in a 50-49 vote after several Republicans joined Democrats in support of the motion.

Republican Senators Susan Collins, Jon Husted and Dan Sullivan backed Schumer’s effort, while other Republicans later introduced separate amendments seeking to permanently eliminate the fund. None of those proposals were adopted.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis initially indicated he would not support the bill without language formally banning the fund but ultimately voted in favour of the measure. He later proposed redirecting the fund’s resources to fraud enforcement activities, though that amendment failed in an 84-15 vote.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy also proposed an amendment to end the fund and joined Democratic Senator Cory Booker in supporting legal efforts to maintain a court order blocking its implementation. They argued the fund posed a threat to congressional authority.

The legislation was debated during an extended amendment session in the Senate. In addition to the anti-weaponization fund, lawmakers considered proposals unrelated to immigration, including measures to block federal funding and private donations for a planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom on White House grounds. None of those amendments were approved.

Murkowski said she opposed the legislation because it bypassed the Senate’s regular appropriations process and failed to address concerns surrounding the fund.

The House of Representatives is expected to take up the legislation next week.