Senate Begins Vote-a-Rama on DHS Immigration Funding and DOJ Compensation Fund

The Senate is set to begin a marathon vote series on Thursday as Republicans seek to fund immigration agencies under the Department of Homeland Security without Democratic support. The chamber is moving ahead with the reconciliation process, beginning with a vote-a-rama on Thursday morning.

During the vote-a-rama, senators can offer an unlimited number of amendments and require the chamber to cast vote after vote.

Democrats and some Republicans are expected to force votes aimed at restricting the DOJ fund, which is intended to provide taxpayer-funded payouts to individuals who alleged the federal government had been weaponized against them. The announcement of the fund last month threatened to derail the funding for DHS immigration enforcement agencies.

Senate Republicans have been seeking to fund the agencies for months but faced opposition from Democrats after two fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis in January.

After negotiations over possible reforms to the agencies fell apart, Senate Republicans opted to pursue the funding on their own through budget reconciliation. The reconciliation process allows Republicans to bypass the 60-vote threshold and move forward with a simple majority.

As Republicans were poised to begin the marathon vote series last month, the administration announced the fund, prompting Republican leaders to scrap plans to begin voting and the chamber recessed without making progress.

Upon their return this week, Republicans worked to gain assurances from the administration. GOP Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana have filed amendments related to the fund.