The US Senate has greenlit a funding package exceeding $70 billion (£52 billion) aimed at supporting President Donald Trump’s immigration agencies.
This allocation will finance organizations such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol for the remaining three years of President Trump’s presidency.
The measure now moves to the House of Representatives for a vote, and if passed, will be sent to President Trump for his signature.
In a closely contested 52-to-47 vote that largely followed party lines, only one Republican joined Democrats in opposing the legislation during an extended overnight session.
Democrats attempted to introduce several amendments to limit President Trump’s contentious $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” but these efforts were unsuccessful, pushing the final vote into the early hours of the morning.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated earlier this week that plans for the fund were being reconsidered; however, Trump later hinted that it might not be entirely off the table, stating he would need to consult with legal advisors.
A significant portion of the approximately $72 billion spending package is earmarked for ICE and Border Patrol, agencies central to Trump’s immigration enforcement initiatives.
Earlier this year, Democrats had withheld support for funding ICE or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) following two tragic shootings in Minnesota involving federal immigration officers, which led to a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The vote on Friday utilized a legislative procedure that allows spending-related issues to be passed with a simple majority.
Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska was the lone Republican to oppose the bill, criticizing the process used. One Democrat abstained from voting.
During an 18-hour session known as a “vote-a-rama,” senators had the opportunity to propose changes to the bill, with many Democrats seeking to add provisions unrelated to immigration matters.
Numerous amendments centered on Trump’s $1.8 billion fund, which aims to provide compensation for individuals allegedly affected by government overreach but has faced criticism as a potential slush fund for Trump’s supporters.
Earlier in the week, senators had agreed to strip $1 billion (£745 million) in funding intended for Trump’s new White House ballroom from the legislation.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong