The United States Senate approved, on Friday, June 5, 2026, $70 billion in financing for Donald Trump’s immigration offensive, after a day of voting on multiple amendments that highlighted divisions among Republicans over other of the president’s political proposals.
The bill would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol for the remainder of Trump’s term, giving the Republican leader a major victory on one of his signature issues after months of wrangling in the legislature. The text now goes to the House of Representatives, where Republican leaders plan to address it early next week and send it to Trump’s office for approval.
The vote follows the record partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) earlier this year, when Democrats refused to support new funding for unrestricted immigration enforcement. These included tactics such as raids and the use of masks by officers. Republicans rejected those demands and opted instead for fund ICE and the Border Patrol through the accelerated “budget reconciliation” process, which allows them to circumvent Democratic opposition if they manage to keep their own members united.
Amended text
Among the amendments that did not succeed in the last vote in the Senate were measures aimed at the “anti-politicization” fund, the future financing of the ballroom in the White House and an attempt by Trump to place a housing official loyal to the president as head of US intelligence.
In the process, Democrats also took the opportunity to try to redirect money from immigration enforcement to housing and other social areas. With the midterm elections approaching, marked by inflation, Democrats argued that Republicans were prioritizing Trump’s deportation agenda over the cost of living. (AFP, Reuters)
