US Senate Passes $70 Billion ICE Funding Bill, Fails to Ban Trump's ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund

The U.S. Senate handed President Donald Trump a significant political victory early Friday by passing legislation that would provide an additional $70 billion to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for immigration enforcement and border security operations.

The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52-47, with no Democratic support. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski was the only Republican to vote against the measure. The legislation does not include any provision to prohibit Trump's controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, which critics say could be used to compensate the president’s political allies for alleged government mistreatment.

Senate Republican Leader John Thune described the fund as a “settled issue,” citing testimony from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche that the Department of Justice would not move forward with it. Democrats, however, argued that Blanche’s assurances alone were insufficient.

Despite the administration's indication that the fund may not be implemented, President Trump reaffirmed his support for it on Wednesday, calling it “so important.”

Funding Trump's Immigration Crackdown

Most of the new funding would go to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agencies, helping finance the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation and immigration enforcement efforts over the next three years.

Democrats criticized the measure, arguing that ICE and Border Patrol already have roughly $100 billion in unspent funds from previous DHS appropriations approved by the Republican-controlled Congress.

Debate Over the ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund

Much of the Senate’s lengthy debate focused on efforts by Democrats—and some Republicans—to eliminate the anti-weaponization fund. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a measure to block the fund, but it failed by a narrow 50-49 vote.

Several Republicans also sought amendments to permanently prohibit the fund, reflecting growing concern within the party ahead of the November midterm elections. However, none of the proposed amendments were adopted.

Following the vote, Schumer accused Republicans of leaving taxpayers dependent on promises rather than legal safeguards, calling the fund a potential “slush fund” for Trump allies.

Republican Concerns Persist

Some Republican lawmakers expressed unease about the political fallout surrounding the fund. Senator Thom Tillis warned that failing to formally block it could create electoral challenges for Republican candidates facing competitive reelection campaigns.

Meanwhile, Senator Bill Cassidy joined Democratic Senator Cory Booker in supporting legal efforts to maintain a court-ordered block on the fund. They argued that it poses an “immediate and dire threat” to Congress’s constitutional authority.

The legislation now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives, where lawmakers are expected to take it up for consideration next week.