US Congress approves $70 billion for Trump immigration crackdown

The United States Congress has passed a $70 billion bill to fund President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement initiatives, concluding months of intense partisan debate. The legislation, which received approval primarily along party lines in the House after passing the Senate, now awaits Trump's signature. This represents a significant legislative win for the Republican leader on a key issue ahead of the November midterm elections.

The bill allocates approximately $38 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), $26 billion to Border Patrol, and an additional $5 billion for unforeseen expenses. This funding is intended to support Trump's deportation agenda through fiscal year 2029. Democrats, who opposed the measure, voiced concerns that the bill provides a "blank check" for aggressive enforcement tactics without adequate oversight or limitations.

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With today’s vote, House and Senate Republicans have officially ended the third Democrat government shutdown of this Congress. And here’s the end result of Democrats’ record-setting obstruction: CBP and ICE will now be funded for the remainder of President Trump’s term and Democrats will have no ability to defund these agencies in the 119th or 120th Congresses.

The dispute originated from a prolonged fight over Homeland Security funding, exacerbated by an immigration enforcement surge in Minneapolis in January that resulted in two civilian deaths by federal law enforcement. Democrats had sought restrictions on tactics such as raids in sensitive locations, the use of masks by officers, and entry onto private property without warrants. Republicans rejected these demands, opting instead for the budget reconciliation process, which permits spending measures to pass the Senate with a simple majority, circumventing the usual 60-vote threshold needed to overcome Democratic opposition.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson declared the vote ended "the third Democrat government shutdown of this Congress," asserting that CBP and ICE would now be funded for the remainder of Trump's term without the possibility of Democratic obstruction in future Congresses. Conversely, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the bill, arguing that taxpayer money should be prioritized for lowering costs for Americans rather than providing ICE with additional funding. This package follows nearly $140 billion previously approved for immigration enforcement.

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taxpayer money should be used to lower costs for Americans, not to give ICE “another $70 billion blank check.”