Key facts
- The Senate passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill funding ICE and Border Patrol through President Trump's term.
- The House also approved a nearly $70 billion package to fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years.
- The House passed the Ukraine Support Act with $1.3 billion in security aid and $8 billion in loans to Ukraine.
- The Ukraine bill includes escalating sanctions and a 500% tariff on Russian imports.
- A measure to fund 200 new investigators for the DHS child exploitation unit passed.
- The Senate blocked debate on the reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA, which expires June 12.
- Seven Senate Republicans joined Democrats to block FISA debate.
- Senate Republicans voted against an amendment to permanently eliminate President Trump's $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund.
- Senate Democrats successfully blocked the proposed $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund.
- Dozens of children separated under the first Trump administration have been re-separated from their parents.
- A Texas immigration detention center had missing records, medical failures, and wasteful spending.
- ICE will cease publicly reporting deaths of released detainees.
The U.S. Senate has approved a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill, intended to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol through the end of President Donald Trump's term. The legislation passed by a vote of 52-47 after extensive debates, particularly concerning a settlement fund and a proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund initiated by Donald Trump. Senate Democrats successfully blocked this "anti-weaponization" fund, while some Senate Republicans also voted against an amendment to permanently eliminate it, exposing divisions within the party ahead of the November elections. The bill's advancement followed a vote to begin debating the package, which had been stalled by Republican objections to the "anti-weaponization" fund. The House of Representatives has also advanced a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill, with House Republicans approving their version without Democratic support, and another report indicates the House approved a nearly $70 billion package to fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years, concluding a four-month partisan standoff. This bill now heads to President Trump's desk.
In parallel legislative actions, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Ukraine Support Act with bipartisan support, by a vote of 226-195. This bill allocates $1.3 billion in security aid and $8 billion in loans to Ukraine, coupled with escalating sanctions and a 500% tariff on Russian imports. However, the Ukraine bill faces challenges in the Senate and a likely presidential veto. Separately, Senator Josh Hawley's measure to fund 200 new investigators and analysts for the Department of Homeland Security's child exploitation unit has passed as part of a $70 billion reconciliation package. This $108.5 million investment aims to significantly boost the agency's capacity to combat child trafficking and exploitation. The Senate also blocked debate on the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which expires June 12, with seven Senate Republicans joining Democrats in opposition, citing concerns over Bill Pulte's appointment as acting director of national intelligence. Trump administration officials are reportedly leveraging this FISA stalemate to push for scaling back or eliminating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).
Further developments highlight issues within immigration enforcement and related policies. A U.S. government watchdog report identified significant problems at a Texas immigration detention center, including missing use-of-force reports, inadequate medical care for seriously ill detainees, and wasteful spending through rushed contracts. An Associated Press investigation revealed that dozens of children separated under the first Trump administration have been re-separated from their parents, despite a judge's order for reunification. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) claims its detainees are the "worst of the worst," but government data appears to contradict this assertion. ICE will also cease publicly reporting deaths of detainees who have been released from custody, as announced via an internal memo citing "common sense."
Looking ahead, U.S. Customs and Border Protection expects to complete President Donald Trump's border wall project by late 2027. The reinforced metal beam barrier is planned to extend from San Diego to the Gulf of Mexico. The head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection noted that cooperation with Mexico on border security is improving, despite ongoing bilateral tensions. White House officials have also met with law enforcement groups to discuss the CLARITY Act, focusing on illicit finance and developer protections, with a Senate vote on the legislation expected. The Senate is also considering a $69.5 billion budget reconciliation package for immigration enforcement through 2029, and a sweeping executive order could lead to approximately 8,000 federal workers facing job cuts, with the president's green card policy reportedly softened.