Senate Delays Vote on $72 Billion Immigration Enforcement Bill Until June

Senate Republicans will not complete action on a $72 billion reconciliation bill funding immigration enforcement before the Memorial Day recess. The measure was intended to provide long-term resources to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Homeland Security through 2029.

Background on the Funding Package The legislation was drafted after Democrats declined to include funding for those agencies in an earlier appropriations bill that ended a 76-day partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. President Trump had set a June 1 deadline for the package to reach his desk.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced Thursday that the Senate would leave Washington without passing the bill. Portions of the measure had advanced through committee, but the full chamber did not take a final vote.

the Anti-Weaponization Fund The delay stems from disagreement inside the Republican conference over a $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund created by the Justice Department. The fund was established under a settlement agreement in a lawsuit President Trump filed against the Internal Revenue Service after the unauthorized release of his tax returns.

Thune told reporters that senators are consulting with the administration on possible guardrails for the fund. One option under discussion is to add restrictions on how the money can be used and who may qualify for payments. Democratic leaders said the postponement shows their opposition to the fund is having an effect.

They described the fund as a vehicle for payments to political allies and called on Republicans to drop support for it.

Republicans also removed a $1 billion provision for Secret Service security enhancements tied to construction of a new White House East Wing ballroom. Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that the ballroom funding violated the Byrd Rule and could not be included in the reconciliation bill.

“We’ll sort it out from here, but obviously it became a more complicated and bumpy path than we had hoped for.”

The House is also expected to delay its consideration of the measure until after the recess. Republicans said they hope to resolve remaining issues and bring the package to a vote the week of June 1.