WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans are advancing nearly $70 billion in immigration enforcement funding on Tuesday, providing financial support for two Homeland Security agencies through the next three years and President Donald Trump’s remaining term in office.
Speaker Mike Johnson requires almost complete Republican attendance and solidarity to push the legislation across the finish line after weeks of legislative work. The measure faced delays when GOP members attempted to add $1 billion for enhanced White House security improvements, including Trump’s new ballroom, along with the Trump administration’s effort to establish a nearly $1.8 billion compensation fund for presidential allies claiming unjust investigation and prosecution. These additions became politically problematic and were ultimately removed.
The current version focuses exclusively on immigration enforcement, which Republicans view as a key differentiator between the major political parties and a potential winning issue for upcoming midterm elections. The measure allocates $38 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $26 billion to the Border Patrol, and an additional $5 billion for unexpected expenses, supporting Trump’s deportation initiatives.
“It’s long overdue,” Johnson, R-La., stated regarding the legislation. “We have to fund border security and immigration enforcement, and it’s sad that Republicans have to do it on our own.”
This funding supplements the approximately $140 billion that the Republican-led Congress previously allocated to ICE and Customs and Border Protection last year through Trump’s tax and spending reduction package.
Democratic lawmakers opposed providing additional agency funding without substantial operational reforms following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. Democrats demanded requirements such as agents displaying identification badges during enforcement activities and obtaining judicial warrants before entering private property. The funding will proceed with minimal restrictions.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries pledged his party’s opposition to the measure.
“We believe that taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people – not give ICE another $70 billion blank check so that they can unleash brutality on American citizens and violently target law-abiding immigrant communities,” Jeffries of New York stated.
The legislation results from months of congressional deadlock after Democrats blocked Department of Homeland Security funding following immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis and other cities nationwide, creating the agency’s longest shutdown period.
White House negotiations to modify ICE operations according to Democratic demands ultimately failed, prompting Republicans to use complex procedural tactics to bypass the filibuster and advance immigration funding without Democratic support.
Upon approval, the measure would proceed to Trump for signing, virtually guaranteeing continuous funding for his immigration enforcement and deportation programs through 2029.
Senate lawmakers completed their work on the bill last week during an overnight session extending into early Friday morning. The final 52-47 vote followed mostly party lines, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska as the sole Republican opposition.
The funding arrives during a critical period for the Department of Homeland Security, operating under new leadership after Trump replaced Kristi Noem with Secretary Markwayne Mullin in March.
Despite Mullin’s commitment to keeping the department away from controversy, the administration faces pressure from anti-immigration groups to fulfill Trump’s campaign pledge of conducting America’s largest deportation operation in history.
The administration has not yet reached its annual goal of 1 million deportations, though Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has indicated more operations ahead, including potential immigration enforcement in New York, the country’s largest city with strong Democratic representation.
Simultaneously, the administration is creating additional obstacles for legal immigrants seeking to remain in America by working to eliminate Temporary Protective Status, modifying green card application procedures, and causing some Dreamers — young individuals brought to the U.S. illegally as children — to experience delays in status renewals that permit them to stay and work.
Johnson faces narrow margins for success in the House. Republicans can only afford losing a few votes with full attendance. GOP leadership chose to send members home last week rather than risk early consideration Friday after the Senate’s overnight session.
The legislation represents a streamlined package, lacking the extensive details and directives typically included when Congress funds federal agencies.
Before the vote, Democrats characterized DHS as an agency that has purchased private aircraft for leadership, housed immigrants in poor conditions, and targeted American citizens.
“To give these rogue agencies another $70 billion now when they still have $100 billion in the bank from last year would implicate all of us in the escalating corruption and shameful actions of this department,” stated Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the ranking Democratic member on the House Judiciary Committee.
Republicans argued they were fulfilling their responsibility to protect the nation and support law enforcement personnel.
“Democrats can say whatever they want, but what it’s about is public safety. What’s it about is keeping Americans safe,” said Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn.
