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The Senate approved a $70 billion immigration funding package early Friday morning after Republicans overcame weeks of delays and internal divisions over a controversial Trump administration settlement fund that nearly derailed the legislation.
The bill passed 52-47 shortly before 5 a.m. and would provide funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol through the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term.
The measure represents a major victory for Republicans, who have spent months pushing for additional resources for immigration enforcement agencies while facing Democratic opposition and growing concerns within their own party over a proposed $1.776 billion Department of Justice settlement fund.
The overnight debate centered largely on efforts to permanently block the fund, which was created as part of a settlement resolving Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns. Critics have warned the money could ultimately be used to compensate Trump allies who claim they were politically targeted by the federal government.
Although acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers earlier this week that the administration no longer planned to move forward with the fund, several senators remained skeptical and sought legislative guarantees that it could not be revived.
Republicans and Democrats offered multiple amendments aimed at restricting or eliminating the program, but each effort failed.
One of the most closely watched proposals came from Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who sought to redirect any potential settlement payments to law enforcement officers injured during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Senate rejected the amendment.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., also pushed an amendment that would have formally prohibited the settlement fund and redirected the money to Justice Department anti-fraud efforts. That proposal likewise failed.
The prolonged debate frustrated Senate Republican leaders, who had hoped to keep attention focused on immigration enforcement rather than the settlement controversy.
“This would have been done several hours ago if we weren’t having to deal with some of the issues around the fund,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said during debate.
Democrats argued Republicans missed an opportunity to permanently block a program they view as vulnerable to political abuse.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused Republicans of relying on assurances from the Trump administration rather than codifying restrictions into law.
The immigration package now heads to the House, where lawmakers are expected to take it up next week.
The legislation would end a months-long funding dispute that left ICE and Border Patrol operating without long-term congressional approval after negotiations between Republicans and Democrats collapsed earlier this year.
Democrats had sought policy changes tied to immigration enforcement practices, including stricter identification requirements for federal agents and expanded use of judicial warrants. Those proposals were not included in the final legislation.
Republicans ultimately used a budget process that allowed them to bypass the Senate filibuster and pass the bill without Democratic support, delivering one of the administration’s top domestic policy priorities as lawmakers head into the final stretch before November’s midterm elections.
