Key facts
- The House approved a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill with a 214-212 vote.
- The bill allocates $38 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and $26 billion for the Border Patrol.
- Funding is provided for the next three years, frontloading annual allocations.
- The legislation passed without Democratic support after earlier proposals were removed.
- President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill into law.
The House of Representatives narrowly passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill, a key legislative priority for Republicans. The bill, which passed by a 214-212 vote without Democratic support, now heads to President Donald Trump's desk for his signature. It aims to provide substantial funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol over the next three years, accelerating the Trump administration's deportation agenda.
Republicans utilized their majority to push the legislation through after earlier contentious proposals related to White House security and compensation for allies were removed. Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the necessity of funding border security, while Democrats criticized the bill as a "slush fund" for ICE, lacking oversight and accountability. Democrats also argued that Republicans were prioritizing enforcement over other essential services like Medicaid and nutrition assistance.
The funding package comes after a period of congressional standoff and failed negotiations with the White House regarding changes to ICE operations. The bill frontloads annual funding, intended to ensure an uninterrupted flow of money for deportation efforts. The Department of Homeland Security, under new leadership, faces pressure to deliver on President Trump's promise of a large-scale deportation operation.