The Senate voted 53-46 Wednesday to begin debating a $70 billion immigration enforcement package, breaking a two-week logjam after Republicans revolted against a White House proposal to create a $1.8 billion legal defense fund for people who felt targeted by the Biden-era Justice Department.
The vote sets up hours of floor debate and an unlimited series of amendment votes, with final passage expected later this week. Republicans are moving the bill through budget reconciliation, which requires only a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing the usual 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster.
The package would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol through 2029, a top priority for President Trump and GOP leaders. But the controversy over the so-called 'anti-weaponization fund' stalled the legislation until Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told senators Tuesday the administration would not pursue the proposal.
Still, several Republicans remain unconvinced. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who is retiring and often breaks with his party, said Blanche's assurance isn't enough. 'We've got an acting AG saying one thing, the president is saying another. The only thing that gives it finality is what we can do in there,' Tillis told reporters, gesturing toward the Senate chamber. He plans to file an amendment that would permanently block creation of the fund.
Trump himself added to the confusion. In a podcast interview with the New York Post on Tuesday, he suggested the fund wasn't dead, saying, 'No, a court ruled against' it. That remark fueled GOP fears that the fund could be used to compensate individuals convicted for their roles in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, including those who assaulted police officers.
'I think that the Republicans should do the stump speech test on this issue, particularly the ones who are in cycle,' Tillis said. 'I stand solidly behind an administration that wants to potentially provide compensation to people who assaulted Capitol police officers, I stand fully behind that. Test that on the stump and see how it works out for you in November.'
The amendment process also gives Democrats a platform to force politically awkward votes. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Wednesday that 'every vote and every amendment we bring to the floor will demonstrate Democrats are standing up for the American people, and Republicans are selling out to Donald Trump.'
But any successful amendment could complicate the bill's path in the House, where GOP leaders have already faced internal strife over immigration funding and other priorities. The Senate's move comes as Congress juggles a crowded agenda ahead of the midterm election season, with lawmakers eager to return to their districts.
The standoff over the anti-weaponization fund echoes broader tensions within the GOP over Trump's approach to immigration enforcement. In a related development, GOP stalemate on immigration funding and FISA extension sparks internal fury, highlighting the fractures in the party's coalition.
Meanwhile, the White House is pressing for swift passage, but the Senate's marathon amendment session could stretch into the weekend. With the midterms looming, both parties are using the debate to sharpen their political messages.
