On Friday, the majority of the US Senate approved a bill aiming to allocate $70 billion to help enforce immigration laws. While the House of Representatives is expected to consider the project later, Republicans accused Democrats of "reducing funding" for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and the Border Police.

Published on: 06/05/2026 - 13:52

Fifty-two members of the US Senate voted on Friday in favor of a bill allocating an additional $70 billion for law enforcement operations related to immigrants.

47 members voted against the project, which includes the strict deportation program launched by President Donald Trump, and Democrats did not support it, and without including a clause to ban the $1.8 billion “anti-politicization of government” fund, which may be used to compensate political allies of Trump for allegations that they were subjected to unfair treatment by the government, and one Republican voted against the project.

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In this context, Senate Republican leader John Theune said that the fund is a “settled issue,” referring to the testimony of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche before Congress, in which he said that the Department of Justice would not move forward with it, despite Democrats’ assertion that that was not enough. Trump nominated Blanche to assume the position permanently.

Theon told reporters, "It is difficult for me to imagine that they would nominate someone who made clear statements before a committee in the House of Representatives and then retracted them later... I do not think that will happen."

Accusations of "reducing funding"

Republicans accused Democrats of "reducing funding" for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and the Border Police, despite the two agencies having about $100 billion in unspent funds, as part of a broader spending package approved by Republicans who control Congress last year.

The House of Representatives is not expected to consider the project before next week.

The lengthy discussions on Thursday regarding funding the immigration administration were overshadowed by attempts by Democrats and some Republicans to include provisions not related to immigration, including a ban on the use of federal funds or private donations to build a luxurious 90,000-square-foot ballroom in the White House that Trump seeks to build.

Council members discussed provisions prohibiting the use of public funds in the “Anti-Politicization of Government” fund, but none of these amendments were approved. The funding contained in the project would support the tightening of Trump's controversial campaign to deport immigrants over the next three years.

France 24/Reuters

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