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The Senate's passage of a $70 billion immigration enforcement bill should eliminate some money stress for the government, but Democratic opposition to the bill remains strong. In an 18-hour marathon vote overnight, the Senate ultimately passed the controversial bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.
Here's what you should know about the bill and why Democrats oppose certain elements of what passed.
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The funding bill's passage
Just before 5 a.m. on Friday, the Senate voted 52-47 to pass the $70 billion legislation. The legislation funds ICE and Border Patrol for the next three years, lasting through the end of Trump's term. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican to vote against the bill.
What's in the bill
Most of the bill's funding is allocated for enforcement. It directs $38.2 billion for ICE operations, including expenses such as hiring new staff, ICE detention and removal work, upgrading ICE technology and facilities, and more.
The bill allocates $26 billion to Customs and Border Protection for purposes such as hiring staff, enhancing surveillance and inspection systems, and performing border screenings.
Approximately $5 billion is allocated for the Department of Homeland Security for operations and enforcement needs, and about $1.5 billion is intended for the Department of Justice for immigration legal costs.
The context of the bill's passage
The passage of the bill comes after a months-long standoff in which Democrats demanded policy changes after the fatal and highly publicized ICE shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis in January. ICE and Border Patrol funding had been frozen since February.
After Democrats refused to support the bill, Republicans used a reconciliation maneuver to work around the Senate's typical 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster, allowing the bill to pass with 52 votes.
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The Democrats want added accountability
The Democrats' objection to the bill hinges on two factors, the first of which is a desire for increased accountability measures to regulate the agencies' enforcement tactics. Democrats vowed not to fund ICE or Border Patrol unless Republicans agreed to put new limits on the agencies after the killing of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good.
The controversial Trump slush fund
Much of the discussion around the bill centered on attempts made by Republicans and Democrats to add language that would ban the creation of Trump's $1.776 billion settlement fund, often referred to as a slush fund. Last month, the Department of Justice stated that the money was for individuals who felt they were unfairly prosecuted by the Biden administration, prompting fear that the funds could be used to compensate Trump's allies.
When Trump sued the Justice Department over his leaked tax returns, the DOJ created a program that allows individuals who feel they were targeted by the government to request compensation or formal apologies; the arrangement was reached in exchange for dropping the lawsuit. Though a federal judge has temporarily blocked the fund, both parties attempted to introduce language to prohibit it. That language was not included in the final bill.
What the bill doesn't include
The bill omits any security funding for the White House ballroom. It also doesn't put any limitations on the creation of Trump's slush fund, meaning that if the fund were to be created, money could potentially be used to pay January 6 rioters who have been convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers.
Democrats introduced several measures intended to block or limit the slush fund, including a measure that would ban payments to January 6 protesters who had injured law enforcement officers. Those amendments weren't included.
Additional Democrat requests
Democrats introduced amendments to help lower the cost of housing, health care, gasoline, and child care, but Republicans rejected those amendments.
"The Republican agenda is now written in black and white: a slush fund for Trump, tax dodges for Trump, a ballroom for Trump, and a private militia for Trump. For hard-working Americans? Nothing," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Republicans are "leaving taxpayers to rely on nothing more than a promise from Donald Trump's personal fixer," Schumer said. "That is not accountability. That is a permission slip."
Bottom line
The bill now goes to the House, which is expected to vote on it next week. If the House approves the bill, it should move to President Trump's desk to be signed. The Trump administration continues to give mixed signals about whether the slush fund proposal is dead or still under consideration, which might cause divisiveness in the House vote.
The bill doesn't address many of the financial challenges that families face today, including the rising cost of food, health care, and housing. Until Congress takes up these cost-of-living issues and finds real solutions, families may have to continue to find ways to cope with increasing bills and expenses.
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