United States of America

Senate Moves to Fund ICE, CBP Amid DHS Shutdown

Is the $70B immigration enforcement push a national security necessity or a power grab before Democrats retake Congress?

Published 2 hours ago

Senate Moves to Fund ICE, CBP Amid DHS Shutdown

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Above: Senator Tom Cotton and other Republicans after a Senate luncheon on April 21. Image credit: Samuel Corum/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Republican narrative

Democrats have left border security agencies in financial freefall by blocking ICE and CBP funding for over two months, forcing Republicans to use reconciliation just to keep the border secure. The DHS shutdown has gone on long enough — $70 billion for immigration enforcement is exactly what's needed to lock in the progress made under Trump and prevent Democrats from dismantling it after the midterms. Funding Border Patrol and ICE is the bare minimum required to protect the country.

Tom Cotton on X Newsmax

Senate Republicans on X

Democratic narrative

Republicans are bypassing accountability entirely, rushing billions to agencies that already have tens of billions in unspent funds from last year's reconciliation bill. ICE and CBP received $75 billion and $65 billion respectively, with most of it still available, so this $70 billion push isn't about necessity, it's about locking in unchecked enforcement power before Democrats can win back Congress. No body cams, no warrants, no reforms — just a blank check for agencies that already killed two Americans.

Catherine Cortez Masto on X CBS News

Mazie Hirono on X