WASHINGTON (AP) — A bill providing nearly $70 billion for immigration enforcement narrowly passed the House on Tuesday and now heads to President Donald Trump for his signature, fueling the administration's deportation agenda for the remainder of his time in the White House. Republicans used their majority to push the bill through, funding two Homeland Security agencies over the next three years. The vote was 214-212, with Democrats opposing.
Funding Breakdown
The White House stated the bill allocates $38 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), $26 billion for the Border Patrol, and an additional $5 billion for unforeseen costs. This frontloads routine annual funding, ensuring a virtually uninterrupted flow of money as the Trump administration aims to deport approximately 1 million people per year.
Political Maneuvering
Speaker Mike Johnson required near-perfect attendance and unity among Republicans to finalize weeks of action. The legislation was previously sidetracked by $1 billion for White House security, including a new ballroom for Trump, and a $1.8 billion fund to compensate allies claiming unjust investigations. These proposals were scrapped due to political toxicity.
Now, the bill focuses solely on immigration enforcement, a defining issue for Republicans as they prepare for the midterm elections. “It's long overdue,” said Johnson, R-La. “We have to fund border security and immigration enforcement, and it's sad that Republicans have to do it on our own.” Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas called it a “slush fund for ICE.”
Accelerating Deportation Efforts
This funding adds to nearly $140 billion Congress provided to ICE and Customs and Border Protection last year under Trump's tax and spending cuts bill. Democrats objected to additional funding without operational changes following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. They demanded agents remove masks, display ID badges, and obtain judicial warrants before entering private property. Instead, the funding comes with few strings attached.
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York criticized Republicans for prioritizing immigration over other needs, noting cuts to Medicaid and nutrition assistance. “Republicans have now come back for more, to give ICE and Donald Trump's violent mass deportation machine another $70 billion blank check, with no oversight, no accountability and no guardrails,” Jeffries said.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise countered that Democrats were not supportive of law enforcement. “Make no mistake, if you're voting yes, you're not only voting to secure America's border, you're voting to fund law enforcement,” Scalise said. “And if you vote no, you are voting to defund the police.”
Longest Shutdown in DHS History
The package results from a monthslong standoff after Democrats refused to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis and other cities, leading to the longest shutdown in the agency's history. Negotiations with the White House to alter ICE operations failed, prompting Republicans to use a procedural maneuver to bypass the filibuster and pass the bill without Democratic votes.
Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, chairman of the Budget Committee, said the money provides “regular, normal funding” that ICE and the Border Patrol would receive through annual budgeting. “And we're going to do it, not for one year, but for three years, so we don't end up here again.” The Senate passed the bill 52-47 last week, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska the only Republican opposing.
Pivotal Time for Immigration Agenda
The funding comes at a critical time for DHS, now under new Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who replaced Kristi Noem in March. While Mullin aims to keep the department out of headlines, the administration faces pressure from anti-immigration advocates to fulfill Trump's promise of the largest deportation operation in history. So far, the administration has not met its goal of 1 million deportations annually, but border czar Tom Homan has hinted at actions in New York City.
Simultaneously, the administration is tightening rules for legal immigrants by ending Temporary Protective Status, altering green card processes, and causing delays for Dreamers—young people brought illegally as children—in renewing their status.
Lawmaker Clashes
On the House side, Johnson had little margin for error. GOP leadership avoided early Friday votes, sending lawmakers home after the Senate's overnight session. Democrats portrayed DHS as an agency using resources to buy private jets, warehouse immigrants in deplorable conditions, and attack U.S. citizens. “Republican leadership likes to talk a lot about common sense, but where is the common sense in giving this federal agency essentially unlimited funds without a single reform in place?” asked Rep. Pete Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic Caucus.
Republicans countered that they were safeguarding the nation and supporting law enforcement. “Democrats can say whatever they want, but what it's about is public safety. What's it about is keeping Americans safe,” said Rep. Michelle Fischbach, R-Minn.
