US Senate Passes $70 Billion ICE, Border Patrol Funding Bill After Overnight Standoff

The US Senate early Friday passed a $70 billion bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol for the next three years, in a closely contested 52-47 vote that followed hours of procedural delays and partisan clashes.

The legislation, which extends funding through the end of President Donald Trump ’s term, was repeatedly slowed by disputes over a separate $1.776 billion settlement fund tied to Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns.

Republicans and Democrats clashed over multiple amendments seeking to either block or redirect the fund. One proposal by Republican Senator Bill Cassidy aimed to divert potential payouts toward law enforcement officers injured in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, but it was defeated. Another amendment by Senator Thom Tillis to bar the settlement while reallocating funds to an anti-fraud program also failed to pass despite some bipartisan support.

Democrats attempted to prohibit the settlement entirely, warning it could enable politically motivated payouts, but those efforts were also rejected. Senate leaders argued the disputes risked derailing the broader immigration funding package, which Republicans prioritized ahead of an election year.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the repeated amendments slowed progress on what was intended to be a straightforward funding vote, while Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer , criticized the arrangement as lacking accountability.

The bill passed after Republicans used procedural maneuvers to overcome a filibuster, ending months of delays over funding for immigration enforcement agencies.