Senate Approves $70 Billion Funding Plan for Immigration Enforcement Agencies

US Senate Approves Budget Framework for Homeland Security Department

The US Senate has voted 50-48 to advance a budget framework that would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol, taking the first step towards reopening the partially shut-down Department of Homeland Security. The measure, which provides $70 billion in funding for three years, covers the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term.

The department has been closed since mid-February following a request from Democrats to make policy changes after two protesters were fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis in January. The Senate voted on the budget framework early Thursday morning, with Republicans supporting the measure and Democrats opposing it.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated that Republicans aimed to secure funding for border enforcement. “We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America’s borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies,” he said.

The budget reconciliation process allows some budget-related legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority, rather than the 60 votes usually needed to overcome a filibuster. This means that Republicans can advance the funding measure without Democratic support.

Senate Democrats proposed amendments aimed at reducing healthcare and household costs during the vote. The Senate has already passed a separate bipartisan measure to reopen the rest of the Homeland Security Department. However, Republican leaders in the House have stated they will not consider this bill until progress is made on funding ICE and Border Patrol.

The $70 billion proposal would finance the two agencies for three years, covering the remainder of Trump’s term. Republican leaders hope to send the legislation to Trump for approval in the coming weeks.

Source: Al Jazeera