2 Republicans break ranks as Senate passes $70B ICE and Border Patrol bill

WASHINGTON, DC: The Senate has approved a $70 billion budget resolution aimed at funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol through the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term.

The early vote on Thursday, April 23, marks a key step in Republican efforts to fully reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has been partially shut down since mid-February.

The measure now moves to the House as part of a broader legislative process that has faced political divisions. 

Senate advances funding plan as DHS shutdown persists

The Senate passed the budget resolution in a 50-48 vote, largely along party lines, as Republicans sought to secure funding for ICE and Border Patrol without Democratic backing.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the measure was part of a broader legislative effort to address border security and restore DHS operations.

“We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America’s borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies,” Thune said after the vote concluded at around 3.30 am. 

The resolution is part of a multi-stage budget reconciliation process that allows Republicans to bypass the need for bipartisan support in the Senate.

It follows a partial shutdown of DHS that began on February 14 after negotiations between the two parties broke down. 

Democrats had pushed for policy changes following the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in Minnesota earlier this year.

While most Republicans supported the measure, Senators Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul joined Democrats in voting against it.

Two Senators, Chuck Grassley and Mark Warner, did not vote. Lawmakers also rejected more than a dozen amendments, many introduced by Democrats, addressing issues such as healthcare costs and broader spending priorities.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has said the chamber will prioritize the funding measure for ICE and Border Patrol before taking up other DHS-related legislation. “We’ll get there,” Johnson told reporters. “Just stay tuned.”

Partisan divisions persist over Immigration policy 

Democrats criticized the funding proposal, arguing that it prioritizes enforcement spending over other domestic needs and lacks accountability measures for federal agencies. 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Republicans should focus on lowering costs for Americans instead of increasing funding for immigration enforcement.

“Instead of pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into ICE and Border Patrol, Republicans should be working with Democrats to lower out-of-pocket costs,” Schumer said.

Democrats have also called for additional restrictions on immigration enforcement practices, including requiring federal agents to display identification and increasing the use of judicial warrants.

These demands emerged in part after the January shootings of two protesters in Minneapolis, which intensified scrutiny of federal operations.

Earlier this year, President Trump agreed to separate DHS funding from a broader spending bill following Democratic pressure, but subsequent negotiations failed to produce a compromise.

As a result, funding for parts of the department lapsed. The administration has since relied on executive actions to maintain some operations, including paying certain federal employees, though the long-term outlook remains uncertain.