House Republicans on Tuesday approved a $70 billion immigration enforcement package, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump after months of internal party disputes and tense negotiations on Capitol Hill.
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The measure, one of the administration’s top legislative priorities, will provide funding for the Department of Homeland Security, including US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), through the remainder of Trump’s second term.
The House passed the bill by a narrow 214-212 margin along party lines. Independent Representative Kevin Kiley of California joined Democrats in voting against the measure.
GOP Divisions Nearly Derail Bill
The legislation faced several obstacles before reaching final passage. Disagreements emerged between Republican leaders over strategy, while Senate Republicans threatened to block the package because of concerns over a proposed Justice Department settlement fund backed by Trump.
Critics argued the fund could be used to benefit the president’s political allies. Although Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers the initiative would not proceed, some Senate Republicans continued pushing for language to prohibit it.
In the Senate, several Republicans initially delayed the bill over those concerns before ultimately supporting it. Only Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the measure.
House Hardliners Seek Immigration Vote
The bill also encountered resistance in the House during its final stages.
More than a dozen conservative Republicans temporarily withheld support for a procedural vote as they sought commitments from party leaders to consider a separate immigration crackdown proposal.
According to people familiar with the discussions, the group delayed House action while pressing for a vote on the stricter immigration measure. It remains unclear whether leadership agreed to their demands, and the proposal would likely face significant opposition if brought to the House floor.
Despite those tensions, Republican lawmakers ultimately united behind the funding package.
“This bill breaks the Democrats’ stranglehold over ICE and CBP funding,” Representative Tom McClintock of California said during floor debate.
Democrats Criticize Lack of Oversight
Democrats strongly opposed the legislation, arguing it provides billions of dollars for immigration enforcement without imposing new reforms or oversight requirements on ICE.
The agency has faced scrutiny following fatal shootings involving federal agents that contributed to Democrats blocking previous funding efforts.
Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington said Republicans were approving the funding package with “no guardrails,” while Representative Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky argued the money could be better spent elsewhere.
“With $70 billion, we could end homelessness in America,” McGarvey said. “Just about anything would be better than giving it to ICE.”
White House Security Funding Removed
One notable administration request was dropped during negotiations.
Trump had sought roughly $1 billion for White House security improvements, including about $200 million connected to his proposed East Wing ballroom project. Senate Republicans raised concerns about the request, and parliamentary rulings also complicated its inclusion.
The final legislation excludes the White House funding provisions.
The bill’s passage highlights both the challenges and the limits of Republican majorities in Congress. Despite repeated threats of defections and disputes over key provisions, GOP lawmakers ultimately delivered a package that closely matches Trump’s original immigration funding demands.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 10 June 2026
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