US Senate approves 70 billion dollar allocation for immigration enforcement and border agencies

The chamber backed the package in a 52-47 tally without any Democratic votes and declined to restrict the contested 1.8 billion dollar anti-weaponization reserve.

ByREUTERS

JUNE 5, 2026 13:26

The US Senate delivered President Donald Trump an early morning victory on Friday by advancing legislation that supplies the Department of Homeland Security with 70 billion dollars in fresh resources for immigration operations and forwarding the measure to the House.

The final count stood at 52-47, reflecting zero Democratic support and the absence of any clause blocking the 1.8 billion dollar anti-weaponization reserve intended to address claims of past government mistreatment of Trump associates. A single Republican opposed the overall bill.

Senate Republican Leader John Thune described the reserve as a resolved matter, pointing to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's testimony that the Justice Department would not pursue the initiative, although Democrats maintained that assurances alone were inadequate. Trump has selected Blanche to serve as permanent attorney general.

Thune told reporters it was difficult to imagine officials reversing clear statements made before Congress, adding that such a reversal was unlikely to occur.

Additional resources target deportation operations

Republicans have charged Democrats with underfunding Immigration and Customs Enforcement along with Border Patrol even though the two agencies hold roughly 100 billion dollars in unspent balances from a prior DHS appropriations measure passed by the Republican-led Congress.

The House is not anticipated to consider the legislation until the following week.

Extended debate on Thursday centered on attempts by Democrats and a few Republicans to attach unrelated provisions, including restrictions on federal or private funds for a proposed 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom.

Lawmakers also considered language that would have barred federal dollars from supporting the anti-weaponization reserve, yet none of the proposed changes succeeded.

The new funding is designed to sustain the administration's expanded deportation activities across the next three years.

Voting on amendments began during an extended session early Thursday and concluded with passage of the core bill in the early hours of Friday.

An initial effort by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to eliminate the anti-weaponization reserve stalled proceedings for hours after Republican Senator Susan Collins supported the motion, later joined by Senators Jon Husted and Dan Sullivan.

Schumer's proposal fell short on a 50-49 vote and highlighted divisions within Senate Republicans, some of whom pursued their own measures to end the reserve ahead of November midterms.

Collins, Husted, and Sullivan each face competitive reelection contests amid softening approval ratings for Trump even within his own party.

Schumer stated afterward that Republicans had declined to permanently bar the multi-billion-dollar reserve, leaving taxpayers dependent on assurances from Trump's nominee for attorney general.

The reserve has already been paused by the White House and Justice Department.

Trump nevertheless expressed support for the concept on Wednesday, telling reporters he viewed it as important.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who opposed Schumer's motion, indicated he would withhold support from the funding bill absent a Republican-led amendment to formalize Blanche's testimony, warning that inaction could expose vulnerable GOP candidates to voter backlash.

Critics label Trump reserve a serious constitutional concern

The bulk of the immigration funding targets DHS components responsible for carrying out intensified deportation efforts nationwide.

Tillis later proposed redirecting the reserve toward fraud enforcement, but the amendment failed 84-15 despite backing from 12 Republicans.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who offered a separate amendment to terminate the reserve, joined Democratic Senator Cory Booker in supporting a legal filing urging a federal judge to preserve an existing block on the initiative.

The filing described the reserve as an immediate risk to constitutional principles and congressional authority.

Recent Trump actions, including requests for substantial funding tied to White House improvements and high-profile nominations, have drawn public criticism from several Republican lawmakers.