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In the early hours of Friday, the Senate passed a bill to secure funding for most operations of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), effectively concluding a two-month impasse between Republicans and Democrats.
Senate Republicans agreed to a proposal from Democrats to allocate funds for the entire DHS, excluding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division, which encompasses Border Protection.
The Senate gave its nod to the funding measure via a voice vote, and the chamber is set to enter a two-week recess. The House might cast its vote on the bill as soon as Friday.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) referred to the resolution as “unfortunate” on Friday.
“The Democrats sought reforms. We attempted to collaborate on those reforms. In the end, they achieved none, but we’ll have to tackle some of those issues another day,” he remarked.
The Senate’s approval of the legislation follows as President Donald Trump announced Thursday he would have DHS pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, who have been working without pay as the shutdown began a month and a half ago.
Democrats have shut down funding for DHS as they seek to put constraints on federal agents that have been conducting immigration raids across the country. The deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have led many Democrats to demand DHS agents no wear masks, require judicial warrants for immigration raids, and more.
“Senate Democrats were clear: no blank check for a lawless ICE and Border Patrol,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Friday.
“Democrats held firm in our opposition that Donald Trump’s rogue and deadly militia should not get more funding without serious reforms.”
While congressional lawmakers hash out how to address ICE and Border Patrol funding and conduct, the two agencies can continue to operate on roughly $140 billion in funding from the Big Beautiful Bill.
It remains possible that a second Republican reconciliation bill, which could pass through the Senate with only 51 votes, may increase immigration enforcement funding.
Thune said that it remains a “good possibility.”
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) said, “What’s coming next will supercharge deportations,”