A Republican effort to lock in funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol through the end of the Trump administration took a step forward early Thursday.
Using a process called budget reconciliation that allows for legislation to clear the Senate with a simple majority, the Senate adopted the bill to fund the two agencies just after 3:30 a.m. Eastern time after about six hours of debate, according toCBS News.
The process allowed for what’s known as a “vote-a-rama,” in which lawmakers can put forward amendments that require debate and votes.
The legislation passed 50-48, with all Democrats opposed. According to the Senateroll call, Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the bill. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa did not vote.
The legislation now goes to the House, which must approve it to set in motion another round of votes required before passage.
The vast majority of Republicans stuck together to do something Democrats are refusing to do: Fully fund the Border Patrol and ICE for three and a half years through the Trump presidency. As Senate Budget Committee Chairman, I am very proud of my colleagues.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC)April 23, 2026
“We have a multistep process ahead of us, but at the end Republicans will have helped ensure that America’s borders are secure and prevented Democrats from defunding these important agencies,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said.
The budget resolution allows the Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Homeland Security Committee to draft legislation to increase spending by up to $70 billion each, with the goal being a final bill spending about $70 billion to fund the two agencies through the end of the Trump administration.
Thune said he hopes the House will move forward with Senate-passed legislation to fund other parts of the Department of Homeland Security.
Source: VidNews » Feed
