Senate Republicans approved a budget resolution Thursday that would allocate up to $140 billion to immigration enforcement agencies, advancing a third major budget reconciliation bill as the party pursues its legislative priorities. The measure passed along nearly party lines in an early morning vote, setting the stage for the House to consider similar legislation.
The budget resolution passed 50-48, with all Democrats opposed. Two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky, also voted against the measure. The approval marks a critical step in the reconciliation process, which allows certain bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority rather than the usual 60-vote threshold.
The funding would go to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, two agencies that have operated without money since mid-February when the Department of Homeland Security began a partial shutdown. Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune said the resolution represents progress toward ending the shutdown while securing border operations.
"We have a multi-step 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," Thune said.
Democrats have opposed funding these agencies following the deaths of two U.S. citizens in January during an intensive immigration operation in Minneapolis. After weeks of negotiations with the Trump administration, Democrats sought reforms including restrictions on federal agents wearing masks during operations and requirements for warrants before stopping people. Those talks ultimately broke down, prompting Republicans to move forward unilaterally through reconciliation.
House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated he would schedule a separate vote on bipartisan DHS funding legislation previously approved by the Senate, but only after progress is made on the reconciliation bill. "Sequencing is important. We have to make sure we don't isolate and make an orphan out of key agencies of the department," Johnson said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the Republican approach, saying the funding allocation reflects misplaced priorities. "Tonight, Senate Republicans showed the American people where they stand: not for families struggling with the high costs of childcare, groceries and gasoline, electricity, but for pumping $140bn towards rogue agencies," Schumer said after the vote.
During the amendment process known as "vote-a-rama," Democrats proposed changes focused on affordability concerns, including amendments addressing grocery prices and out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Dan Sullivan of Alaska, both considered vulnerable in upcoming elections, voted in favor of those amendments, though they did not advance.
The House must now adopt the budget resolution before committees can proceed with writing specific legislation to unlock the funding for the two agencies.