Senate passes $70 billion immigration enforcement bill after overnight vote
8 verified4 unconfirmed2 contested
The Senate passed a $70 billion bill early Friday morning to fund immigration enforcement agencies for the next three years, after an 18-hour overnight session. The legislation provides money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol through the remainder of President Trump’s term. The vote was 52-47, with all Democrats opposing and one Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, voting against it. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, where a vote could come as early as next week. The marathon debate was dominated by a dispute over an unrelated $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate people who allege political targeting by the government. Lawmakers defeated multiple amendments aimed at blocking or redirecting the fund, which had threatened to derail the legislation. Republicans used a budget reconciliation process to bypass the Senate’s usual 60-vote threshold and pass the bill without Democratic support.
What’s verified
The Senate voted 52-47 to pass a $70 billion bill funding ICE and Border Patrol for three years.
One Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, opposed the bill; all Democrats voted against it.
The bill followed an 18-hour overnight session and weeks of delays.
The $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” or settlement fund — part of a Trump lawsuit settlement — was a central controversy during the debate.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s amendment to kill the fund won support from three Republicans (Collins, Husted, Sullivan) but failed narrowly.
An amendment by Sen. Bill Cassidy to redirect fund payments to law enforcement injured on Jan. 6, 2021, was also defeated.
Another amendment by Sen. Thom Tillis to redirect the fund’s money to fraud enforcement failed.
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for a vote.
Where accounts differ
Sources differ on the exact amount of the settlement fund: three sources list it as $1.8 billion, while one source lists it as $1.776 billion.
One source reports that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress the administration was dropping the fund, while another notes that President Trump later said he was unsure. No direct contradiction between these two statements, but they present different levels of certainty.
Not yet confirmed
Only one source reports that the Department of Homeland Security was shuttered for 76 days earlier this year due to the funding dispute.
Only one source identifies the two Minnesota protesters killed by federal agents as Renee Good and Alex Pretti, which triggered Democratic demands for reforms.
It is unclear from the sources whether the settlement fund remains active or has been permanently abandoned, despite Blanche’s testimony.
None of the sources specify how much of the $70 billion will go to ICE versus Border Patrol.
Key figures
President Donald Trump
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine)
Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio)
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska)
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.)
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche
Sources: NPR, dw.com
