The House on Wednesday adopted a Senate-approved budget plan, marking the first step in a Republican strategy to fund federal immigration agencies through the rest of President Trump's term without Democratic support. The resolution directs committees overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol to draft legislation delivering about $70 billion to these agencies.
Key Takeaways
The House adopted a Senate-approved budget plan to fund ICE and Border Patrol through reconciliation, bypassing Democratic support. The move follows warnings from the White House that DHS funding will soon run out, risking airport disruptions and national security concerns.
- House passes Senate budget resolution 215-211
- Resolution directs committees to draft legislation for $70 billion in ICE and Border Patrol funding
- White House warns DHS funds will run out by May
- Democrats refuse to fund ICE without reforms
- Republicans plan separate track for other DHS funding
The budget plan passed in a 215-211 vote, allowing lawmakers to begin crafting legislation to fund ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans aim to meet President Trump's June deadline to end the funding lapse that has shut down the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since February.
The White House had warned in a memo to lawmakers on Tuesday that DHS 'will soon run out of critical operating funds, placing essential personnel and operations at risk.' The administration stated that funds tapped by President Trump through executive actions to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers will be exhausted by May. This warning underscores the urgency for Congress to act swiftly.
Democrats have refused to fund ICE and Border Patrol without reforms, prolonging the impasse. A divide between House and Senate Republicans on whether to split off funding for DHS components unrelated to immigration enforcement has further complicated the process. The bipartisan bill that would fund other parts of Homeland Security, including TSA and the Coast Guard, passed the Senate a month ago but has been stalled in the House due to Republican disagreements.
The process to approve funding is expected to take several weeks. Republicans have stressed renewed urgency after the White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting on Saturday. Meanwhile, Democrats argue that most of DHS could be funded immediately if House GOP leaders held a vote on legislation that the Senate passed with bipartisan support in March.
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