The U.S. Senate approved a bill on Friday providing an additional $70 billion for immigration enforcement agencies, handing President Donald Trump a legislative victory and advancing one of his administration’s key policy priorities.
The measure, passed by a 52-47 vote after an overnight voting session, would boost funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations through the remainder of Trump’s term in office.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. The vote followed weeks of political wrangling and an 18-hour “vote-a-rama” in the Senate, during which lawmakers considered a series of amendments.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only member of her party to vote against the legislation.The funding package became entangled in controversy over a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that critics said could benefit political allies of the president.
Efforts by Democrats and some Republicans to remove or restrict the fund failed, exposing divisions within the Republican Party.
Republicans argued the legislation was necessary to strengthen border security and support immigration enforcement operations. Democrats opposed the measure, raising concerns about oversight and broader immigration policies.
The House is expected to take up the bill next week. If approved, the legislation would provide new resources for immigration enforcement agencies at the centre of Trump’s deportation and border security agenda.