Senate Passes 70 Billion Dollar Immigration Enforcement Package After Marathon Vote

Senate Approves Controversial Funding After All-Night Battle

The U.S. Senate passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement package early Friday morning in a 52-47 vote, with no Democratic support . The final vote came just before 5 a.m., after Republicans narrowly defeated multiple attempts by Democrats and Republicans to add language to the bill that would permanently ban Trump's settlement fund . The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives for final consideration.

Lawmakers began voting on amendments to the immigration bill in a "vote-a-rama" session early on Thursday that culminated in the vote on the underlying measure in the early hours of Friday . The vote on final passage came after the chamber held a so-called "vote-a-rama," which spanned more than 18 hours. Senators were able to offer an unlimited number of amendments, requiring the chamber to cast more than two dozen votes .

The $70 billion legislation will fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol for the next three years, through the end of Trump's term . Senate Republicans used a complicated procedural maneuver to get around the filibuster and pass the budget legislation with no Democratic votes .

Republicans Navigate Internal Divisions Over Trump Fund

The passage came despite significant Republican opposition to a controversial "anti-weaponization" fund that critics say would serve as a slush fund for Trump allies and could grant payouts to rioters who attacked police officers during the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol . A group of GOP holdouts, which included GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy, who recently lost his primary after public clashes with Trump, had been refusing to fall in line behind leadership. But Cassidy ultimately voted against the push from Democrats .

An initial move by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to kill the "anti-weaponization" fund brought the session to a largely procedural halt for hours after Republican Senator Susan Collins voted for the motion. She was later joined by fellow Republicans Jon Husted and Dan Sullivan. Schumer's measure failed in a 50-49 vote but exposed the political turmoil among rank-and-file Senate Republicans .

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., forced a vote on an amendment to redirect the $1.8 billion to an anti-fraud unit. A dozen Republicans voted with him, including John Cornyn of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who were recently defeated in primaries by Trump-backed opponents .

Background and Political Context

Enactment of the roughly $70 billion bill to fund ICE and the Border Patrol would end the blockade by Democrats who demanded policy changes after the fatal shootings of two protesters by federal agents in January . After two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by immigration enforcement agents in Minneapolis, Democrats insisted that ICE and Border Patrol be subject to the same operational rules as police forces across the United States, including a requirement that judicial warrants be obtained before agents can enter private homes .

Congress eventually funded the rest of the Homeland Security Department at the end of April with Democratic support, but ICE and Border Patrol has remained without regular funding . Republicans accused Democrats of "defunding" Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, despite the agencies having a combined $100 billion in unspent funds that was part of a larger DHS spending package enacted last year by Republicans .

What Happens Next

The House is not expected to take up the measure before next week, according to Republican leaders . The legislation represents a significant victory for the Trump administration's immigration enforcement priorities, though internal Republican divisions over the controversial settlement fund have highlighted growing tensions within the party.

The funding package ensures that immigration enforcement agencies will remain fully operational through the remainder of Trump's presidency, providing resources for additional personnel, technology upgrades, and support for state and local law enforcement partnerships. With midterm elections approaching in November, the vote has also served as a political test for vulnerable Republicans who must balance loyalty to Trump with concerns about controversial provisions that could prove problematic with voters.