Photo: Alamy
The Senate approved legislation early Friday to provide roughly $70 billion in funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Border Patrol through the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term, following weeks of delays tied to controversy over a proposed $1.776 billion settlement fund.
The chamber voted 52-47 on the measure after an overnight session that stretched until nearly 5 a.m. Republicans spent hours defeating amendments from both parties seeking to permanently block the settlement fund, which critics argued could benefit President Trump’s political allies, claiming government persecution.
A key moment came when Republicans narrowly rejected an amendment from Bill Cassidy that would have redirected settlement money to police officers injured during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The final outcome also excluded the SAVE America Act amendment.
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican who voted against. No Senate Democrats supported the bill.
The dispute overshadowed what GOP leaders expected to be a straightforward vote centered on immigration enforcement funding. John Thune acknowledged the internal disagreements shortly before midnight.
“This would have been done several hours ago if we weren’t having to deal with some of the issues around the fund,” Thune said.
The settlement fund emerged from President Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns and became a political flashpoint after concerns that some Jan. 6 defendants could potentially receive compensation.
Earlier in the week, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department would not move forward with the fund, but some Republican senators continued to push for legislation to formally prohibit it.
The legislation ends a months-long standoff over immigration funding after Democrats demanded policy changes following the fatal January shootings of two protesters by federal agents in Minneapolis.
Senate Republicans ultimately used procedural maneuvers to bypass a filibuster and pass the measure without Democratic support.