US Senate approves $70bn funding for Trump’s immigration enforcement plan

By Taiwo Scholarstica

The United States Senate on Friday approved a $70 billion funding package to support President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, marking a major legislative victory for the administration.

The bill provides funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol through the remainder of Trump’s term. It now moves to the House of Representatives, where Republican leaders hope to secure quick approval before sending it to the president for signing.

The vote came after an intense “vote-a-rama,” a marathon session during which senators debated and voted on several amendments. The process exposed divisions within the Republican Party over some of Trump’s other policy proposals.

The funding package follows a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year after Democrats refused to support additional immigration enforcement funding without restrictions on tactics such as raids in sensitive locations and the use of masks by officers. Republicans instead used the budget reconciliation process to bypass Democratic opposition.

Debate also centred on a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponisation” fund, criticised by opponents as a potential slush fund for Trump allies. Following backlash, the administration indicated it would not proceed with the proposal.

Democrats argued that resources should be directed toward housing and affordability concerns rather than immigration enforcement. Despite the disagreements, the Senate approved the measure, handing Trump a significant win while highlighting ongoing Republican divisions over some of his priorities.