House expected to vote on $70 billion bill to fund President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda

Supervising Producer

WASHINGTON —

The House is set to vote as soon as Tuesday on a $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement through the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term.

The funding would be used to hire new Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agents, deport individuals in the country illegally, and upgrade border security measures.

If the bill passes the House and is signed by the president, the funding will add to the $140 billion these agencies received last year through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Trump’s signature tax and spending legislation.

Lawmakers are using budget reconciliation to pass the bill, which requires only a simple majority. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday that Democrats will firmly oppose the legislation.

The immigration enforcement funding fight dates back to January, when Democrats demanded changes to immigration enforcement policies following the deadly shootings of two protesters by federal agents in Minneapolis. The debate led to a 75-day partial government shutdown as lawmakers discussed reforming enforcement practices.

Republicans decided to fund immigration enforcement exclusively, while Democrats supported a separate bill that funded all other Department of Homeland Security operations except ICE and CBP.

The House vote Tuesday comes after the Senate passed the bill on Friday in a near party-line vote.

Some Democrats and a few Republicans introduced amendments aimed at challenging parts of the president’s agenda and putting Republicans on record regarding controversial policies.

Some amendments sought to outlaw the administration’s anti-weaponization fund, which was intended to compensate individuals who believe they were unfairly targeted by the government. This could potentially include those involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. On the first day of his second term, Trump pardoned everyone charged with crimes from that attack — hundreds of defendants in all.

Last week, senators ultimately voted down any restrictions on the fund, which Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration is not moving forward with.

Controversy about the fund could reappear during the House vote. Some Republicans have said they’re uneasy about the fund, especially lawmakers up for reelection in November who are in closely contested races.

Since Blanche’s announcement, Trump has twice spoken positively about the fund. His latest comments came in an interview that aired on Sunday. When asked about the fund, the president said, “I love the idea,” adding, “If it was up to me, I’d pay them the kind of money they deserve.”

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